How to Test a Car Battery Yourself
Are your dashboard and lights turning on, but the car won’t start? Do you hear a click or the dash lights dim when you try to start the car? You may have a bad battery if you notice any of these symptoms.
Before replacing that expensive battery, it is good to perform a battery check to ensure it is bad. Otherwise, you may be replacing a good battery for no reason. This article covers testing a car battery using a Digital Multimeter and a Battery Analyzer.
How do you test a car battery with a multimeter or voltmeter?
Testing a car battery is simple and requires a digital multimeter. Don’t worry if you have never used a multimeter before; it’s straightforward.
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In short, you must set the multimeter to the 20-volt DC setting. Next, turn off the ignition and lights. Connect the red cable to the positive (+) terminal and the black cable to the negative (-) terminal of the battery.
- Turn off the ignition. You need to turn the engine off to test the car battery with a multimeter.
- Locate the car battery.
The first step in checking a car battery is to locate the battery. In most cases, the car battery is in the engine bay. Open and look for it near the engine. The battery is more likely to be in the trunk if you have a European car or a high-end luxury vehicle. Some models may have batteries under the passenger or rear seat cushion. 
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. You may notice a 0.0 to 0.2 voltage difference between the battery and jumping posts. - Set up your multimeter to a 20-volt setting.
Set your multimeter to measure voltage. Most multimeters have two voltage settings. One is Direct Current (DC), with a straight line on top of the V symbol. The other is Alternative Current (AC) and has a ~ on top of the V. The ~ symbol represents a sine wave. - Car batteries produce Direct Current, so set your voltmeter to V with a dash (-) line on top. Plug your cables into the two ports of your voltmeter. These are called test leads in technical terms.
- Your multimeter’s red cable or lead should be plugged into the + port and connected to your car battery’s positive terminal.
- Connect Negative. The black cable should connect to your digital multimeter’s – port ( Neg, Ground) and the negative terminal on your car battery.
- Measure Voltage Once you turn the multimeter on and set the voltage range properly, the multimeter will show the battery’s voltage.
The first step in checking a car battery is to locate the battery. In most cases, the car battery is in the engine bay. Open and look for it near the engine. 
The battery is more likely to be in the trunk if you have a European car or a high-end luxury vehicle. Some models may have batteries under the passenger or rear seat cushion. 
If the car battery is hidden under the seat or is mounted in a difficult-to-reach area, you 
Set your multimeter to measure voltage. Most multimeters have two voltage settings. One is Direct Current (DC), with a straight line on top of the V symbol. The other is Alternative Current (
Determine battery status
Determine if your battery is charged or not.
Battery Voltage Guideline
| Voltage | Status |
|---|---|
| Engine Running: 13.7 to 14.7 volt | GOOD |
| Engine Off | Charge Status |
| 12.6 or more volts | 100% Charged – GOOD |
| 12.4+ Volt | 75% Charged – GOOD |
| 12.2 – 12.4 Volt | 50% Charged – Needs Charge |
| 12.05 Volt | 25% Charged – Needs Charge |
| Under 12 volt | Battery Discharged |
Just because the battery is reading over 12.6 volts doesn’t always mean the battery is good. The battery may read over 12.4 volts yet not output enough Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) to start the car. In the next section, you will learn how to perform a battery load test.
How do I find out if my car battery is good?
Any automotive repair shop or auto parts store can load test a battery for you. It is not accurate to assume that the battery itself is bad because a battery is discharged. Charge the battery and conduct a load test to assess its condition.
During a load test, car batteries must supply at least 9.5 volts during engine cranking. The battery needs to be fully charged to perform a load test accurately. Checking the voltage can be misleading because the battery may test well based on voltage but can not hold a load.
In modern vehicles, a load test is a better way to determine whether a battery is good or needs to be replaced.
- Connect the multimeter probes to the car battery.
- Set the voltmeter reading to auto-detect or 20 volts.
- Note battery voltage with the engine off.
- Crank up the car and, in the meantime, have a friend watch the voltage drop on the multimeter. (It is okay if the car doesn’t start.)
- The battery is good if the voltage drops less than two volts, for example, from 12.5 to 10.5 volts during cranking.
- If the battery’s voltage drops more than two volts or drops below 9.5 volts during cranking, it must be replaced soon.
How do you check a car battery with a test tool?
The easiest way to test a car battery is to use a battery analyzer or an electronic or conductance tester.
An electronic tester sends an alternating frequency signal through the battery to determine the condition of the cells. The internal plate battery may have low current flow and conductivity in an old battery.
In other words, an electronic tester measures the conductance of the battery cell. Some but not all battery analyzers, such as the YOUCANIC Battery Test Tool, measure the battery’s cold cranking amps (CCA). By measuring the CCA capacity of the battery, you can determine its remaining life.
How do you charge a dead car battery?
Many car owners jump-start the car and let the alternator charge the battery. While this method works, it is not the best and can shorten a car battery’s life.
Your car’s alternator is designed to supply voltage to run your car and not charge a dead battery. Here are two reasons not to charge a car battery using your alternator.
Suppose the battery is fully discharged, and you jump-start the car. In that case, you risk causing an electrical problem, triggering Undervoltage fault codes on your vehicle’s control modules, and even having the car go into limp mode.
When the alternator charges, the battery is unhealthy; a fast charge would be the case. Use the slow charging method to charge your battery to 100% correctly. A trickle charger takes longer but fully charges the battery.
To properly charge a car battery, you don’t need to remove it from the car, even though removing or disconnecting would be the preferred method.
- Get any 12-volt Trickle Charger.
- Connect the red positive clamp to the battery-positive terminal.
- Connect the negative clamp to the negative battery terminal.
Note: Many vehicles have battery jump-starting terminals under the hood. Car manufacturers recommend using jump terminals to charge the battery in most cases.
A battery that shows low voltage may still be good if fully charged. To determine whether it is good or bad, you need to check if it will hold a charge. To determine if the battery is defective, follow the next section’s procedure to perform a battery load test.
What are the symptoms of a bad car battery?
If your car battery doesn’t hold a charge or keeps discharging when parked, the battery itself could be the culprit. The battery is usually bad, but sometimes battery issues are not as obvious.
- Battery light on
- The car won’t start
- Click, click, click when trying to start the vehicle.
- Engine cranks slowly
- The battery doesn’t hold a charge
Frequently Asked Questions
How many volts should a car battery have?
A good car battery should read 12.5 volts or higher. If your car has been sitting for a long time, there is a good chance the battery will read below that. Don’t assume the battery is defective. Please charge the battery using a trickle charger to bring it up to 100% charged status.
My car battery keeps on dying.
If your car battery keeps on when the car is parked, the problem may not always be a bad battery. Some cars develop what is called a parasitic discharge. This means one car system still uses the battery even when the car is turned off. It will be the same as if you left the light on. Other systems that can cause parasitic draws include amplifiers, aftermarket stereos, electronics plugged into the 12-volt outlet that is always powered on, power seats, and defective ECU control unit, to name a few.
Can I drive the car to charge the battery?
In theory, you can drive the car to charge the battery. Ideally, you want to avoid charging a car battery via the alternator. Alternators are designed to produce electricity to run the car and not change a fully discharged battery. Charging a car battery with the alternator becomes even more of an issue in modern luxury vehicles. The low battery voltage often triggers electrical warnings, such as the airbag light on or transmission going into limp mode.
How can I test a 6-volt or 24-volt motorcycle or boat battery?
This procedure shows you how to test a 12-volt battery with a multimeter. You can also test other battery sizes, such as 6 or 24 volts, using the same procedure, but select the appropriate voltage range on your multimeter or set it to auto-detect.
How long do car batteries last?
Most car batteries last about four to five years. However, it is not uncommon for them to fail after two years or last over seven or eight years.
We hope you find the How to Test a Car Battery Yourself guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.
