How to test a car battery

Video shows how to do a load test on a car battery. We test a battery that passes the load test, and one that fails the test. If your car is turning over slow, not starting, or needing jump starts - it may be worth spending approximately $50 Canadian for a load tester.
How to use a clamp multimeter to measure current, voltage and resistance:

[nickfasola]

Very good demonstration; direct and accurate, Thanks

[christophernunn]

Price of that load charger is now £16.53 on Amazon so I will be ordering one. Thanks for the best no nonsense video which I liked.

[PhatDimes]

Great video....clear. concise and to the point! Im buying one of these after work! Thank you!!

[dwalch]

I’m stunned that you were able to get a voltage reading on the multimeter without the black lead being in the COM port. Actually had to try it on my own multimeter and to my surprise it actually worked! Not that I’m going to do it again. I might blow he socks of my coworkers tomorrow though with that trick. Anyway, good video. Thank you.

[brightonmusic]

Thank you, great video! What was the resulting Cold Cranking Amps or it is just the amps in the battery?

[curtchase]

Your video was very good on performing the procedure, but I have a couple of comments. I have one of those resistive load testers. They do not simulate the current draw of a typical starter motor! Mine draws about 50 amps on a good 12 volt battery. It will be 1/2 of that on a 6 volt battery! A starter can draw from 300-650 amps cranking a cold engine. You should see only a volt or so drop during the load test on a good battery. If tester shows 10.8 or less on a 600cca or higher battery, suspect a weak battery, or it needs a good charge. The reason they tell you not to hold the test button for over 10 seconds is that the cheap resister element can burn out. Ya, I use mine, because I don't have one of those fancy rigs that tests conductance (internal resistance).

[RussellBooth]

I did it on my car today the multimeter only method that GM has, the car has the 5.7 litre Chevy LS1 V8 engine fitted, the battery is almost 3 years old (used for 2), it's a 420 CCA battery & the battery voltage was 12.42 volts, I tested it this way :-

1 - Disable the fuel & ignition system (pull the ECU relay out)

2 - Connect the multimeter leads up to the battery terminals with it set to the volts DC scale

3 - Crank the starter for no longer than 15 seconds, observe the voltage, it shouldn't be lower than 9 -10 volts.

In my case, it read 10.3 volts under load, so my battery is still o.k.

[carolrenta]

Awe thank you kindly from the Caribbean

[jackthehatphoto]

Perfect! Thanks. Can you perform the battery test with the battery still connected to the vehicle?

[noearias]

Thank you for your video from Los Angeles ca USA

[edithabiera]

Thanks, very helpful, from the Philippines...

[boutthere]

Thanks for this.Was exactly the information I was looking for.ATB.

[dlb]

thanks .... nice and straight forward explanation

[MrLonesomerd]

Nice video, but you missed first important step. Always read the battery Cold Cranking Amps or CCA at your battery to know which scale you will gonna use when cheking how good your battery is. Example if the battery is CCA 200 then you will use 200 scale on your Battery load tester. Battery load tester CCA scale is 200 to 1000.

[casanova]

Good vedio we’re did y bay that Batry tester machine

[lacsa]

Thank-You Right-2-The-Point :O) I just picked one Up(Duralast) at the Auto Zone and the associate Had No Idea!! how to show me how to use it. Came home straight to YT and found You....THANK GAUUUDD!! You got a New Subbie LOL TFS :o)

[javieralejandro]

Great video. I love test equipment with needle and scale systems as opposed to digital multimeters, you are limited to what can be done with the DMM. Thanks for posting!

[ilmjcxj]

Excellent illustration. Keep up the good work.

[johnwayne]

thank you . may 21 2023 los angeles (i always like to know who is watching from where. =)

[СынСвета-чэ]

Sorry dear author of the video.
You are wrong to use a multimeter. The black wire should be attached to the socket "COM" and red to the right outlet, where it is written "V, (the Ohm icon), mA".
Thank you for your attention.