![]() ![]() Set voltmeter reading to auto-detect or 20 volts.Connect the multimeter probes to the car battery.In modern vehicles, a load test is a better way to tell if your battery is good or needs to be replaced. Checking the voltage can be misleading because the battery may test well based on voltage but can not hold a load. ![]() The battery needs to be fully charged to perform a load test accurately. To determine whether the battery is good, charge up the battery and perform a load test.ĭuring a load test, car batteries must supply at least 9.5 volts during engine cranking. It is not accurate to assume that the battery itself is bad because a battery is discharged. How to find out if my car battery is good?Īny automotive repair shop or even some auto parts stores can load test a battery for you. In the next section, you will learn how to perform a battery load test. The battery may read over 12.4 volts yet not output enough Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to start the car. Just because the battery is reading over 12.6 volts doesn’t always mean the battery is good. Measure Voltage Once you turn the multimeter on and set the voltage range properly, the multimeter will show the battery’s voltage.ĭetermine if your battery is charged or not.The black cable should connect to the – port ( Neg, Ground) on your digital multimeter and the negative terminal on your car battery. Your multimeter’s red cable or lead should be plugged into the + port and connected to your car battery’s positive terminal.These are called test leads in technical terms. Plug your cables into the two ports of your voltmeter. Car batteries produce Direct Current, so set your voltmeter to V with a dash (-) line on top.The other is Alternative Current (AC) and has a ~ on top of the V. One is Direct Current (DC), with a straight line on top of the V symbol. Most multimeters have two voltage settings. Set up your multimeter to a 20-volt setting.You may notice a 0.0 to 0.2 voltage difference between the battery and jumping posts. Can’t locate the car battery? If the car battery is hidden under the seat or is mounted in a difficult-to-reach area, you can use the jump-starting terminals to connect your multimeter. Some models may have batteries under the passenger or rear seat cushion. The battery is more likely to be in the trunk if you have a European car or a high-end luxury vehicle. Open and look for the battery near the engine. In most cases, the car battery is in the engine bay. The first step in checking a car battery is to locate the battery. To test the car battery with a multimeter, you need to turn the engine off. Connect the red cable to the battery’s positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the battery’s negative (-) terminal. In short, you will need to set the multimeter to the 20-volt DC setting. Don’t worry if you have never used a multimeter before it’s straightforward. Testing a car battery is simple and requires that you have a digital multimeter. How to test a car battery with a multimeter or voltmeter? This article covers how to test a car battery using a Digital Multimeter and a Battery Analyzer. Otherwise, you may be replacing a good battery for no reason. What are the symptoms of a bad car battery?īefore you replace that expensive battery, it is good to perform a battery check to ensure the battery is bad.How to check a car battery with a test tool?.How to find out if my car battery is good?.How to test a car battery with a multimeter or voltmeter?.
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