If it's higher than 12.9V, the battery is overcharged and needs the extra energy removed to prevent long-term damage.Either use a charger for seriously low batteries, or take a drive on the highway for less severe cases. If the voltage is below 12.2V, it will need a recharge to bring it back up to level.This shows a healthy battery carrying a good charge. You should now have a voltage reading on your meter, and ideally it will be somewhere between 12.4V and 12.7V.Connect the multimeter to the two terminals, with the red lead going to the positive one and the black to the negative.Do the same with the negative terminal.If you see any grease or corrosion, wipe it clear to ensure a good electrical contact with the multimeter.After double-checking that the ignition is turned off, remove the cover from the battery's positive terminal.Set your multimeter to a low setting where it can accurately measure around 15 volts DC.
While this might be a little daunting if you've never done it before, it's a straightforward job. The simplest way to check your battery is to use an ordinary electrical multimeter.
#Car battery indicator clear how to#
How to Test a Car Battery with a Multimeter Once you've done all this, turn off the ignition again.įinally, since lead acid batteries contain dangerously corrosive contents, it's a sensible idea to wear eye goggles and sturdy, waterproof gloves to protect you if the battery has a leak or other problem.
Also, turn off any other accessories, such as the radio, air conditioning, GPS and so on.īe sure to switch off any devices that can still run with the engine off: you want no electricity flowing through the system at all. Then, with the engine still running, make sure your headlights and any sidelights are switched off. Before even opening the hood, turn on the ignition to make sure your car starts as normal. Before Testing: Important Safety PrecautionsĪ car battery packs a lot of juice, so safety is extremely important.
If you want to avoid being stranded, it's good to test your battery regularly, checking whether it's still holding a charge or if it needs replacing. You probably never pay it a second thought, at least until it fails at the most inconvenient moment. The battery is the unsung hero of a car's mechanics.
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