How to Test a Car Battery with a Multimeter
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Date: 2021-02-01
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Comments and reviews: 10
Aidan
Hey, Chris, I'm having a bit of an odd battery issue that maybe you can help with. I got my battery about 9mo ago, and for the past few days, almost every time I turn my car to the run position before I start driving, the voltage of the battery drops to 9. 5V after about a minute and stays there. It doesn't get any lower. The engine starts okay, but while it's off and the car is on, the battery voltage just holds at 9. 5V regardless of what loads I put on it. Sometimes it holds at 12V the whole time I'm getting ready to start. The car is charging the battery fine (I verified this with a current clamp); it may be charging it a bit quickly, but I see the correct 14. 4V when the car is running (with both low and high load.
I put my load tester on the battery after a drive and it delivered 400 or so CCA out of 340. I took the battery to both AutoZone and a dedicated battery store and got the same result from both places.
Do you have any idea what might be causing this? I don't want to be doing things like scanning the OBDII computer or updating firmware while this is an issue.
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Hey, Chris, I'm having a bit of an odd battery issue that maybe you can help with. I got my battery about 9mo ago, and for the past few days, almost every time I turn my car to the run position before I start driving, the voltage of the battery drops to 9. 5V after about a minute and stays there. It doesn't get any lower. The engine starts okay, but while it's off and the car is on, the battery voltage just holds at 9. 5V regardless of what loads I put on it. Sometimes it holds at 12V the whole time I'm getting ready to start. The car is charging the battery fine (I verified this with a current clamp); it may be charging it a bit quickly, but I see the correct 14. 4V when the car is running (with both low and high load.
I put my load tester on the battery after a drive and it delivered 400 or so CCA out of 340. I took the battery to both AutoZone and a dedicated battery store and got the same result from both places.
Do you have any idea what might be causing this? I don't want to be doing things like scanning the OBDII computer or updating firmware while this is an issue.
reply
Davids
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reply
Thanks for the video content! Forgive me for the intrusion, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you thought about - Franaar Shining Shape Formula (Have a quick look on google can't remember the place now? It is a great exclusive guide for revealing the secret to repair your electronic devices without the normal expense. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my buddy at very last got cool success with it.
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Magic
Clean terminals and battery post with baking soda with a little water. It will foam. Then rinse it all off. Then clean post and terminal end with means that make the contacts shine. If you can get a battery anti corrosion spray then spray product over the reconnected assembly to stop further corrosion by eliminating any oxidation in the future.
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Clean terminals and battery post with baking soda with a little water. It will foam. Then rinse it all off. Then clean post and terminal end with means that make the contacts shine. If you can get a battery anti corrosion spray then spray product over the reconnected assembly to stop further corrosion by eliminating any oxidation in the future.
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HammerBack0
When I started the car, mine dropped to 7. As soon as it started I drove to the parts store to buy a new one. I came out of the store and the car never started off of the old battery again. So 7 volts on a four cylinder Toyota is death.
Edit- may I add, the original battery from Toyota lasted 18 years. Yes. EIGHTEEN YEARS!
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When I started the car, mine dropped to 7. As soon as it started I drove to the parts store to buy a new one. I came out of the store and the car never started off of the old battery again. So 7 volts on a four cylinder Toyota is death.
Edit- may I add, the original battery from Toyota lasted 18 years. Yes. EIGHTEEN YEARS!
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Jim
Before using the sandpaper, mix some baking soda in hot water and apply to the terminals with a brush. A old toothbrush works well. This will get rid of most of the corrosion. Rinse with clean, warm water and let dry before using the sandpaper. You can also buy a battery terminal brush that works better than sandpaper.
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Before using the sandpaper, mix some baking soda in hot water and apply to the terminals with a brush. A old toothbrush works well. This will get rid of most of the corrosion. Rinse with clean, warm water and let dry before using the sandpaper. You can also buy a battery terminal brush that works better than sandpaper.
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Jimmy
If you have a battery that is 5 years old or more, just change it. Lead/acid batteries have a life span of around 5 years and it isnt worth waiting until its too late. Cold weather depletes the batteries charge as well.
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If you have a battery that is 5 years old or more, just change it. Lead/acid batteries have a life span of around 5 years and it isnt worth waiting until its too late. Cold weather depletes the batteries charge as well.
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Alamin311
What if the Battery has no surface charge and you leave the head lights on for 2 min, and after 2 min the voltmeter is gonna show 12. 2 or 12. 3 even with the new battery.
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What if the Battery has no surface charge and you leave the head lights on for 2 min, and after 2 min the voltmeter is gonna show 12. 2 or 12. 3 even with the new battery.
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James
Chris: A battery should last for 4 years. This here is 6 years old
Me: surprised pikachu face. What? How? Mine usually went dead within 1-2years. WHYYYYYY
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Chris: A battery should last for 4 years. This here is 6 years old
Me: surprised pikachu face. What? How? Mine usually went dead within 1-2years. WHYYYYYY
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Steso
Issue is with the car running the battery voltage jumps around wildly from 14v to 9v to 2V to 12V etc. while running idle. any guesses?
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Issue is with the car running the battery voltage jumps around wildly from 14v to 9v to 2V to 12V etc. while running idle. any guesses?
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tom
exactly what I was looking for - good video. One comment - baking soda and water and a tooth brush works wonders for green corrosion.
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exactly what I was looking for - good video. One comment - baking soda and water and a tooth brush works wonders for green corrosion.
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