The car battery helps the electrical components to work in the car.
You will need it to be able to start the car, run the air conditioning, listen to the radio, wash the windscreen and to be able to drive at night.
If your car battery is a bit low in voltage, you will have trouble starting it in the morning or the headlights would be very weak at night.
A normal life for a battery is between 4 and 5 years, depending on the use. You will need to test the car battery as well to ensure that it tests well.
How to Check Your Car Battery Health?
#1. Check the voltage.
A voltmeter is used to accurately test the voltage in devices. Voltmeters can either be analog or digital; the decision of one or the other is up to your personal preference and budget.
The first step to using the voltmeter is to ensure that the car accessories that could take power from the battery are turned off. This includes turning off the ignition of the car, the car radio, and the car headlights.
Next, take off the covers on the battery terminals. You will connect the positive point of the voltmeter to the red battery terminal and the negative point to the black battery terminal. After looking at the readouts, you will have a good battery if the voltage is between 12.4 V and 12.7 V.
When it comes to readings, if the reading is above 12.5 V this is a good battery. If the charge is 12.3 V, then your car battery is 75% charged, and if it is below 11.8 volts then your battery is low and working at 25%. However, remember using a voltmeter is not the best way of getting an accurate result, as you want to test the battery under load.
#2. Headlights test.
If you don’t have a voltmeter, you can check the headlights of the car to see how it reacts when you turn the car up. If the headlights are on and you get in the car and the headlights are noticeably darker than usual, it is possible you have a low battery.
If you start the car and the headlights get brighter, it indicates that the alternator is functioning but not charging the battery completely.
If you start the car with the headlights on and notice no change in brightness, the battery is functioning properly.
#3. Battery health indicator.
This is a new addition to modern cars. It is attached to the battery as a cover and when you turn on the ignition, an arrow will move to either red or green.
Simply put, when the battery voltage is low, it reads red, good range, reads green. When a battery is empty and not being used you will see black.
#4. Load test.
You will need a car battery tester for this step. After testing the battery with a CCA rating of one and a half, you will need to check if the battery holds 9.6 volts for 15 seconds.
It is also important that the battery is fully charged before conducting the load test.
#5. Power probe.
If you don’t own a voltmeter, you could also check a car battery with a performance certificate.
Performance measurement probe has a tip that you simply tap on the positive battery pole, and the negative pole on the -ve of the performance measurement probe. A good battery would show a reading between 12.2 – 12.9 volts.
Make sure you have turned the ignition off, and all accessories using the battery is also off (This is not the best way of measuring). Ideally is much better to load test.
#6. Ammeter.
Use the ammeter to check the battery’s incoming and outgoing charge. You can tell whether your battery was fully charged by the alternator. If the incoming charge is full, then your battery is OK.
#7. Hydrometer check.
Use the hydrometer to check the degree of acid on the battery plates. If the acid is more dilute, then the battery is behaving normally.
For the best readings, it is advisable to buy a hydrometer that takes its temperature when measurements the specific gravity of the electrolyte. There are similar temperature adjustable models, and others with a conversion table, you can use.
Battery acid is dangerous. Wear gloves when handling acid. It is still a good idea not to use a metal thermometer with the electrolyte temperature due to a possible reaction with acid.
To begin administering a hydrometer test, open the plate covers on the top of the battery. Drop your hydrometer into the first cell, and press the hydrometer cover together and all at once release the lid. The electrolyte will drain down through the hydrometer as soon as you release the hydrometer lid.
Make note of the approximate reading of the specific gravity of the electrolyte in that cell before moving on to the next cell. A functioning battery will have a reading of between 1.265 and 1.299 specific gravity for the acid electrolyte, while anything lower than that is considered undercharged.
The variation between measurements in each cell will also provide the evidenced change in performance of the battery, if there is variation in the measurements that you take, your battery is sulfate.
#8. Physical inspection of the battery.
You need to examine the battery for cracks. The first thing to do when examining the battery is to disconnect the battery terminals and remove the battery from the vehicle.
Once removed, place the battery on a flat surface. Make sure that there’s no bulge on the flat surface of the battery. If there is a dome on the battery’s surface, then the battery is a result of overcharging.
Continue to inspect the end of the battery by checking the battery terminals and the insulation. If there are cracks in the battery, you need to replace it.
Before you put the battery back in the battery carrier, you will need to clean the battery. Cleaning the battery is simple. All you need is baking soda, water, and a soft brush. You will want to mix the ingredients in a container before using the soft brush to wash the top and the side of the battery.
Next, use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess liquid. Do the same for the connectors. Check the battery carrier for signs of corrosion and make sure that you don’t have mixing screws. Place the cleaned battery in the battery compartment and screw it down.
You need to make sure the battery does not rock sideways. Next, replace the terminals, starting with the positive terminals. Before you close the cover, use some Vaseline or grease on the poles to prevent any corrosion issues.
It is good to occasionally check the battery voltage. A battery that’s totally flat does not always cuddle you next to safe places. You can start with checking for the cracks or bulged sides.
If nothing is wrong with the physical inspection of the battery, you can use a voltmeter to check voltage. A good battery should check around 12.5 volts. If you find a volt reading that’s lower than 11.8 volts, the battery is weak and should be replaced or charged.