2011 kia sportage won’t start... mechanic says it might be the computer

hey all, i’ve got a 2011 kia sportage, and after accidentally leaving the switch on, it wouldn’t start. i thought it might be the starter, but my mechanic thinks it’s the computer. after a two-week vacation, i came back to a dead battery, so i recharged it, and it was fine until i left the switch on again. now it’s back to not starting. anyone else run into this?

sometimes when the battery’s been drained a couple of times, it can lose its ability to hold charge. did you try replacing the 12v battery?

breezy said:
sometimes when the battery’s been drained a couple of times, it can lose its ability to hold charge. did you try replacing the 12v battery?

not yet, i was thinking it was something bigger, but maybe it is just the battery.

these cars are super sensitive to battery voltage. a weak battery can make it seem like there’s a bigger problem. i’d start with a new battery.

if it’s cranking but not starting, could be the security system kicking in. worth a shot to disconnect the battery and reconnect it to reset things.

try checking the battery cells. sometimes, damaged cells can cause issues even if it seems charged.

hopefully it’s just a battery issue. replacing it could save you from more expensive repairs.