{"id":8017,"date":"2019-05-08T23:08:51","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T06:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=8017"},"modified":"2025-04-29T19:22:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T02:22:20","slug":"step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-test-a-car-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-test-a-car-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Test a Car Battery"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column8017_4f9926-7d inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-0abd0b  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-4fa535\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading8017_40c410-5e\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Testing a car battery involves using a multimeter, power probe, or voltmeter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect the voltmeter&rsquo;s positive (red) lead to the battery&rsquo;s positive terminal and touch the voltmeter&rsquo;s negative (black) lead to the battery&rsquo;s negative terminal. Check the voltage reading.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A voltage reading of 12.4 up to 12.7 volts means the battery is in good condition. A reading below 12.4 volts means the battery needs to be charged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Too much battery voltage might mean the alternator is overcharging the battery, which can damage it. Meanwhile, too little battery voltage can mean the battery needs to be replaced because it can&rsquo;t hold the charge any longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>&ldquo;What should my battery voltage be?&rdquo; you may ask. <strong>On a full charge, automotive batteries have 12.6 volts or above.<\/strong> When the engine&rsquo;s running, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"&lt;strong&gt;battery&lt;\/strong&gt;\"><strong>battery<\/strong><\/a> should have 13.7 to 14.7 volts. If it&rsquo;s starting to show signs of decline, it&rsquo;s best to have your car&rsquo;s battery tested as soon as possible. If you have a multimeter, you can do this yourself. Learning how to test if a car battery is good yourself can save you time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"524\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Bosch-high-performance-car-battery.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8018\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Bosch-high-performance-car-battery.jpg 524w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Bosch-high-performance-car-battery-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A car&rsquo;s battery should be tested twice a year to minimize the chances of battery failure. Bosch&rsquo;s S6 High-Performance AGM battery meets the highest starting and power supply standards in extreme cold and hot climate.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing the Car Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out the steps below for a guide on how to test a car battery safely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Prepare your ride for the battery test.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Turn off your ignition as well as all the lights and other electric or electronic device that may use battery power when the ignition is off. Disconnect the ignition system by uncoupling the ignition coil or taking out the fuel pump fuse or relay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Check for voltage drop at the battery terminal connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/battery-drop-test-what-it-is-how-to-perform-it-and-its-significance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Voltage drop\">Voltage drop<\/a> at a bad battery terminal connection is sometimes difficult to spot with a just simple visual inspection; hence, you should use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-test-a-car-battery-with-a-multimeter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"multimeter\">multimeter<\/a>, or in extreme cases, a test light as shown in this very short video:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Voltage Drop Test with Test Light\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TxFdwDmelaE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Notice in the video that there isn&rsquo;t a lot of visible corrosion but current still doesn&rsquo;t flow until the terminal is twisted by hand.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column8017_3c9fda-34 kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-right:16px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}.kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id8017_25495a-76 alignnone pro-tip-wrap wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-mobile-layout-right-golden kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column8017_c4274c-0b kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image8017_76a2af-7a.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image8017_76a2af-7a .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image8017_76a2af-7a.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image8017_76a2af-7a .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image8017_76a2af-7a figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image8017_76a2af-7a .image-is-svg, .kb-image8017_76a2af-7a .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image8017_76a2af-7a .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image8017_76a2af-7a\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column8017_2b2e01-a3 inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            If you turn the ignition to &ldquo;on&rdquo; and everything seems normal but everything goes dark or dim when you turn the ignition to &ldquo;start,&rdquo; it&rsquo;s usually a bad connection at one of the battery terminals.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To test for voltage drop at the battery terminals on top post batteries, start with the key in the &ldquo;off&rdquo; position and have all the doors closed and all accessories off.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/checking-Battery-terminals.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/checking-Battery-terminals.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/checking-Battery-terminals-300x158.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hard starts, no-start, and other starting issues are sometimes caused by loose, corroded, or dirty terminals. |&nbsp;<\/em><strong>Source: MoneyPennyMechanical<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Touch the red probe of the multimeter to the positive battery post and the black probe to the cable terminal that connects to the same battery post. Ask someone to crank the engine and take note of the reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do the same for the other battery terminal but this time, the black probe should be the one touching the negative battery post and the meter&rsquo;s red probe to the cable terminal that connects to the same battery post. If the multimeter registers more than 0.5 volts on the positive terminal or more than 0.1 volt on the negative terminal,remove and clean the terminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If the multimeter registers more than 0.5 volts on the positive terminal or more than 0.1 volt on the negative terminal,remove and clean the terminals.<\/p>\n<cite>&ndash;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\">Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Test the battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Testing your car&rsquo;s battery voltage can be done using a voltmeter or a power probe.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/voltmeter-battery-testing-768x514-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8020\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/voltmeter-battery-testing-768x514-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/voltmeter-battery-testing-768x514-1-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Testing a car&rsquo;s battery using a voltmeter is easy. Just make sure to connect the voltmeter&rsquo;s lead to the right battery terminals and take note of the voltage reading. <\/em><strong>| Source: Haynes<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to test a battery with a voltmeter<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Take out the battery&rsquo;s terminal cover and clean the terminals. Set the voltmeter to the lowest voltage setting that&rsquo;s above 15 volts. On most meters there will be a 20 volt setting, but make sure you select DC and not AC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols-1024x564.jpg\" alt=\"symbols of ac dc in car battery\" class=\"wp-image-100489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols-1024x564.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols-768x423.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols-150x83.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ac-dc-symbols.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">AC and DC symbols | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Connect the voltmeter&rsquo;s positive (red) lead to the battery&rsquo;s positive terminal and touch the voltmeter&rsquo;s negative (black) lead to the battery&rsquo;s negative terminal. Check the voltage reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1-1024x392.jpg\" alt=\"inductive dc ammeter image\" class=\"wp-image-100491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1-1024x392.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1-300x115.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1-768x294.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1-150x57.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/inductive-dc-ammeter-1.jpg 1351w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">To supplement the voltmeter, you can get an inductive DC ammeter for a more comprehensive test. With an ammeter and a voltmeter, you can test not only the battery but the charging system. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to test a battery with a power probe<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Remove the battery&rsquo;s terminal cover and attach the positive (red) lead of the power probe to the battery&rsquo;s positive terminal. Connect the negative lead of the power probe to the battery&rsquo;s negative terminal. Touch the tip of the probe to the battery&rsquo;s positive terminal and check the voltage reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Interpret the voltage reading.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A voltage reading of 12.4 up to 12.7 volts means the battery is in good condition. A reading below 12.4 volts means the battery needs to be charged. If the reading is lower than 12.2 volts, you will need to trickle charge the battery and repeat the test.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/battery-voltage-check_excessive-voltage-reading-768x512-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/battery-voltage-check_excessive-voltage-reading-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/battery-voltage-check_excessive-voltage-reading-768x512-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/battery-voltage-check_excessive-voltage-reading-768x512-1-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A reading of more than 12.9 volts means the battery has excessive charge. | Source: YourMechanic<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The battery has excessive voltage if the voltmeter or power probe displays more than 12.9 volts. In this case, you can turn on the car&rsquo;s high beams to reduce excessive voltage surface charge. You may also have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-alternator-vs-bad-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"alternator checked\">alternator checked<\/a> as it&rsquo;s possible that it is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/can-you-overcharge-a-car-battery-common-signs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"over charging the battery\">over charging the battery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing the Battery with a Carbon Pile Tester<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With a carbon pile tester, during a 15-second load at half the cold cranking amp rating, the voltage shouldn&rsquo;t drop below 9.6 volts. If you can spin the starter without starting the engine (fuel and spark both disabled) for 15 seconds without the voltage going below 9.6 volts during that 15 second spin, that battery is good enough for your car.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>&ldquo;What should my battery voltage be?&rdquo; you may ask. On a full charge, automotive batteries have 12.6 volts or above&#8230;. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-test-a-car-battery\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[73],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-8017","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"tag-battery","9":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Test a Car Battery - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does your vehicle have starting issues? 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