How To Test A Car Battery

To check a car battery turn off the ignition and pop your vehicle s hood.
How to test a car battery. Once the battery is fully charged it can be tested to determine whether it is good or bad. Fully test the battery. The parts of the battery to check. A battery that s kept clean lasts longer than a cruddy one.
This test applies a load to the battery while the tester monitors the battery voltage. Hook up a voltmeter to the car s battery by connecting the red lead to the positive terminal and the black lead to the negative terminal. Most retailers offer a simple free five minute battery test. A car s battery is essential to giving the starter motor the energy required to turn the flywheel until the engine reaches self sustaining combustion.
To do this with the ignition system disabled start by touching your multimeter s red probe to the battery s positive terminal then the black probe to the terminal that connects. A few minutes of pre departure preparation can determine if your battery is healthy enough to make the trip. In particular pay attention to the battery s trouble spots shown here. There are two methods for fully testing a battery.
A battery like other parts of your vehicle is subject to wear and tear and should be checked regularly. Most auto parts stores will do this for free. It s important to test your battery and electrical system regularly not just when it s starting to show signs of weakness. Before you work on your battery be.
If the battery is in good condition the voltage will read between 12 4 and 12 7 volts. Car battery testing voltage.