Car won't hold charge after alternator replacement... any advice?

Kia Models Forum Forte
1

Hey folks, I replaced the alternator in my 2015 Kia Forte EX, but now the car won’t hold a charge. It’ll jump and run, but as soon as I stop, it dies. My buddy suggested pulling all the ECU fuses and putting them back in, but now it’s worse—it won’t even start. Any ideas on what could be wrong?

2

It sounds like the battery might be dead. Have you checked the voltage or tried swapping it out?

3

Magdalina said:
It sounds like the battery might be dead. Have you checked the voltage or tried swapping it out?

Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll check the battery and terminals today. Could a bad alternator cause this?

4

@SallyKiaChatter
It’s possible, but if it’s new, I’d double-check the connections and test the battery first. Let us know what you find.

5

You might want to disconnect the battery terminals for about 5 minutes and then reconnect. It can reset some systems.

6

Masitsa said:
You might want to disconnect the battery terminals for about 5 minutes and then reconnect. It can reset some systems.

I just tried that. The car clicks when I try to start it, but it still won’t turn over.

7

@SallyKiaChatter
That clicking usually means the battery is too weak. Check the alternator fuses under the hood, just to be sure.

8

Also, check the starter and make sure the engine hasn’t locked up. These engines are known to have timing issues sometimes.

9

Lenox said:
Also, check the starter and make sure the engine hasn’t locked up. These engines are known to have timing issues sometimes.

Good point. I’ll check that after testing the battery. Hopefully, it’s not something major.

10

If all else fails, have you tested the alternator itself? Even new parts can sometimes be faulty.