Posted in Automotive Repairs

How to Test a Car Battery with a Multimeter

   04/07/2024  40 Comments on How to Test a Car Battery with a Multimeter

How to check a car battery using a multimeter. Does your car not start, do you have dim headlights or interior lights, does the starter sound weak when start the engine, or does your car die sitting overnight? This video will show you a few ways to test your battery to see if it is bad, is going bad, or is good. A good battery will hold a charge at around 12.6v and while the car is starting it wont drop below 8-10v.

Inexpensive yet great multimeter: https://amzn.to/3sy10xH

Test your Alternator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGB6ZEjGm7Q
Check for Parasitic Draw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5FJDgcdii8
Top 10 Mistakes Car Owners Make: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkn-K2noClw

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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. ChrisFix assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. ChrisFix recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not ChrisFix.

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40 thoughts on “How to Test a Car Battery with a Multimeter”

  3. Terrific video! Admittedly, I had never used my multimeter to check a car battery before, so this was extremely helpful. Car wouldn't start yesterday so it sat in a parking lot overnight, went back over this morning and jumped it, brought it home and it does show pretty discharged on my charger, but showing @14.5 volts when the car's running. No idea what's going on yet since it started fine yesterday morning but then a few hours later – nada. Wouldn't even crank, just clicked. I'm going to keep the charger on it and then go from there.

  4. Thanks for the informative video. A few of things to consider …
    1/ Connect the Negative lead of your multimeter to a grounding point on the chassis of the car. This eliminates any chance of creating a spark at the battery terminal and causing any gas discharging from the battery from igniting and causing a fire.
    2/ Always wear face protection and gloves when checking car batteries. Battery acid can cause a lot of damage to human tissue.
    3/ If the battery requires water, use either distilled or demineralised water. While not exactly the same thing, they are both acceptable. Avoid using tap water / bottled water because they contain minerals which will shorten the life of the battery.

  10. Had problem with my 2 year old battery for over a week problem starting but when jumped it starts…… So i decided open the cover on top of the filling holes….. Noticed water was little bit low so i topped it up with battery water….. Charged the battery and didnt have problems again….. Its good to check your battery water level at least ever 4 to 6 months and top up as needed to prolong the lifespan

  11. When you say the battery lasts about 4 years. If you buy a new battery and let it sit on the shelf. For 4 years, is it the same amount of time when it will go bad? Or is it only 4 years when you are using the battery?

  13. Hey Chris can you do a video on how to find a parasite drain with the Same Multimeter I got from harbor freight ..

    And can you do a video on how to use All the Functionality of the Multimeter ?

  18. Can you use Battery Puls repair charger to revive the dead battery?
    & Which one you use?
    1) 3 Stage or 7 Stage charger ?
    2) 5A or 10A ?

  26. 9 years later, i referrenced this video to make sure i did not need soemone on the accelerator while testing the running car battery. Thank you Chris! much aprreciated.

  28. Great video Chris, 10 Million views is amazing. I would have liked to see you try and desulfate your battery that was down to 2 volts. Noco Genius 5 and 10 chargers have a repair mode, and Pulse Tech Chargers use a patented frequency to recover a heavily sulfated battery. I use a Pulse Tech PowerPulse passive desulfator on my 2001 BMW Battery that you leave connected at all times to keep the battery from sulfating.

  33. I've got a Walmart battery in my car that's 6 years old and still strong. I did a desulfate on it last week maybe it will last another year or so. Your video is good only thing is the so called maintenance free batteries aren't maintenance free. I still prize the tops off and add distilled water.

  39. Thank you for this, my battery was at 5.6 Volts. Went to check the date on the battery, 2019 was the expected death. Can’t complain I suppose

  40. Hi Chris, at 1:04, is the engine on while the headlight is open for two mins?

    I'm a bit confused. Before this, you started the car to check the battery light. Did you turn it off afterwards? (before the opening of the headlights)

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