If it holds a charge when it's not connected to the car – something is draining the battery far faster than the computer memory and digital clock. If the multimeter reads less than 12.6 volts, disconnect the battery and fully charge it using a battery charger. If you suspect this is killing your battery during storage, you might be wise to disconnect the battery or remove it entirely. So, systems such as the clock, computer and alarm use some power. One thing to bear in mind is that all modern cars experience 'parasitic loss', which is when something electrical drains the battery even with the engine turned off. A battery that reads 12.2V is actually only 50% charged, and is classed as discharged below 12V. The resting voltage should ideally be no lower than 12.6V. If you get a reading with a minus in front of it (-12.6 rather than 12.6) you've got the probes the wrong way round! Touch the red probe to the positive (usually red) terminal, and the black probe to the negative (black) terminal. Set the dial to 20, which will allow you to accurately measure between 0-20 Volts. The first test with your multimeter will measure DC voltage, indicated with a solid line and a dashed line above a letter V. Jump starting a battery: the right and wrong ways to do it How to check a car battery with a multimeter Once the battery is exposed, be extremely careful that nothing metal touches the terminals and causes a short, so don't rest wrenches or other tools on top of the battery. There may also be a red cover over the positive (+) terminal that will lift off or snap open, too. In modern cars, the battery will often have a plastic cover which will unclip, hinge up, or occasionally require removing with a few bolts or screws. Using a multimeter to test a battery is easy. The first thing to do is make sure you can access the battery terminals (the metal connections on the top or front of the battery).īatteries are commonly located in the engine bay to one side of the engine. If the battery is not immediately obvious when you open the hood, consult the owner's manual.
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