A very decent video to allow an interested person with a multimeter to see if their battery is ready for the winter season. Thanks

@StevesGarage

8 ай бұрын

That's the idea! Glad you liked it.

Thanks...super concise...saved me time and money. It was the battery...

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

Glad it helped! It's always nice to make a proper diagnosis instead of throwing parts at it and wasting money.

Looks like I'm going to have to pick myself up a Multimeter! Especially since winter is right around the corner here in Michigan.❄️

@StevesGarage

8 ай бұрын

They're handy to have for the car or around the house. You can get one with a little kit that has an outlet tester an no-contact voltage tester. Of course those things are for a house and not a car, but they've come in handy for me and my old house.

Very straightforward video! Thanks for sharing 👍🏾

@StevesGarage

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting!

So concise and useful, thanks bro

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

You got it! Glad you liked it and thanks for the comment!

Nice and short. To the point. Thanks!

@StevesGarage

29 күн бұрын

Thats the goal! Thanks for watching and commenting.

Awesome vid man, really helpful

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Very helpful, thank you!

@StevesGarage

2 ай бұрын

You got it! Glad it helped.

Thank you for your help

@StevesGarage

3 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment.

Good work. I like your logo, it's got a cool retro style.

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! It's inspired from the BBS logo 😉

amazing video

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Thanks. My wife's car is having issues...I'm hoping it's the battery as replacing the alternator is a pain in the butt!😀

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

I can't think of a car that's easier to replace the alternator than the battery, so I'll have to agree!

@tylercollins8499

4 ай бұрын

​@@StevesGarage99-03 chrysler 300m, Dodge intrepid, Sebring.

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

@@tylercollins8499I've never owned or worked on one. Do they have the battery under a seat or something silly like that?

@LouiesWorld43

3 ай бұрын

Could be worse could be the pcm/ FCM 😂 always can get be worse when it comes to electrical

@StevesGarage

3 ай бұрын

@@LouiesWorld43 Always have to start simple with electrical. Rule out the easy stuff before jumping to major failures!

Steve great job 👏 I'm the kinda guy that buys tools but don't always know how to use em 😅😂

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment, glad I could help!

Nice1..Stevie * thank u

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

I have a 1997 C-280 Benz l bought in 2009, it is now 26 years old and l have never changed the battery, not sure if it's original but I've had the car 14 years. Probably because the battery is in the trunk protected by weather, so far its still working.

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

I don't think being in the trunk makes a difference, I've replaced trunk batteries before. Do you live in a climate that has less extreme temperature swings than most places?

@tedlahm5740

2 ай бұрын

this is truly an extraordinarily story.

Hi. I was told by a Mechanic the voltage on a battery when measuring via a multimeter is supposed to be about 11-14 volts. At that time I had an accord with a dead battery and I had to rush immediately to a tech because my power ended up running from the alternator entirely instead. Can you clarify the range and also if its common as to what happened to me with my car?

@StevesGarage

7 ай бұрын

If the car is running it shouldn't be below 12 volts, as that would mean your alternator is not charging the battery. As far as the upper range of 14v, the alternator is charging the battery while the car is running. The exact reading depends on engine speed and number of things drawing power from the system. I'm assuming your alternator was fine and your battery was just old and not holding a charge?

The car I was testing was reading around 12.3v, I started the car and it was still reading about the same voltage. But as soon as I turned headlights on, it started to read 14 ish volts. I feel this is not Normal right?

@StevesGarage

7 ай бұрын

What kind of car do you have? This video doesn't cover the behavior of variable voltage or "smart" alternators. Those style alternators can behave like you described.

I guess since you didn’t do a load test is why you never explained it. Whether the old carbon pile type or the current computerized style your looking to introduce a load half the cold cranking amps for a determined period of time, 15 secs usually. The computer ones do it faster. You don’t was to see the voltage go below 9.6 volts. I have no real determination of test time with using a voltmeter but if you hook up the meter and turn your headlights on and the voltage goes below that 9.6 volts quickly then the battery is no good.

@StevesGarage

Ай бұрын

Yea, I didn't get into it since it's so easy to get it load tested at a store. Your explanation is perfect though, you can put a load onto the battery yourself and get a pretty good idea of how it reacts.

My multimeter doesn’t show 20v under the DC. It shows 4000m, 40, 400, 600.

@StevesGarage

7 ай бұрын

40 should work fine. You just don't want to use anything less than what you'll be measuring.

@americandude3825

7 ай бұрын

@@StevesGarage thanks. Battery was so dead. Was ready at 4 volts! No cold crank amps either.

@StevesGarage

7 ай бұрын

@@americandude3825 Oh wow, definitely time for a replacement!

How about telling us where to plug in the leads?

@StevesGarage

Ай бұрын

Black is always plugged into black. Red has the option of amp, or volt/ohm. Since we're measuring volts for this test, plug it into the one labeled with the V and ohm icons. You can see in the video that my lead is plugged into that port, and the A port is open.

So anything under 13 voltage while car is running get a new battery or charge it ....

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

Not necessarily. If it's running and below 13 volts it could be a battery not holding a charge, or your alternator not charging the battery. One way to test is with your battery fully charged and the car off, turn the headlights on for a minute. Then turn them off and check the battery. It should still be above 12 volts. If not, chances are your battery is shot. You can also have parts stores test the battery, and they'll even bench test alternators if you can get it out of your car.

how to check CCA?

@StevesGarage

5 ай бұрын

You won't get a specific reading from a multimeter for CCA. The best way to do it is to pull the fuel fuse so the car won't start, and crank it for a bit. If it doesn't drop below 10V while cranking, your battery is probably fine. That being said, temperature will cause that number to vary. So if you did this test while warm, you might get a different result than when it's really cold.

I have The same multimeter, you can also turn it to the bottom right where it says BATT (battery) 1.5 v Show same numbers. Before and after turning over the engine

@JNicholsKnows

4 ай бұрын

It's showing in the 14s when I turned over the engine. Was in the 12s before but every third start the car struggles to turn over Like I put it on the charger Overnight till it turns, green starts right up to go to work starts right up 8 hours later when I leave work but if I stop anywhere. I have to sit there as it goes Agha. Ag uga ago gaaga for like 15 seconds before it actually turns over. So based on the numbers, the alternator is charging the battery. But somehow the battery isn't holding a charge ... wierd!!!!

@JNicholsKnows

4 ай бұрын

Just tested a theory. Same thing even happens when you turn it over 3 times back-to-back to back the third time. It struggles to turn over. Turn it on, turn it off fine. Turn it on second time. It struggles, turn it off, turn on the third time. It almost doesn't turn over , but still shows same numbers before and after all , three turn overs 12s then 14s 11 months old. Guess I just got a dud battery Unless It's the computer 2004. Honda Accord got a lot of electrical on it. I'll try going to O'reilly and getting a new battery cheapest fixed. I can see just a pain not being able to go anywhere other than work home work home without being afraid. It might not start

@StevesGarage

4 ай бұрын

@@JNicholsKnows Good to know about the BATT setting, thank you! As for the car starting - If it was slow on the 3rd start in quick succession I'd say the battery was just getting drained from starting and not charged up from running. But interesting that it happens every 3rd time. Is the battery old and needs to be replaced? Is it possible it's a different problem entirely? Maybe a fuel or air issue?

@JNicholsKnows

4 ай бұрын

@StevesGarage I'm new to working on my own vehicles just tired of paying other people. The outrageous fee for labor and the parts themselves are so cheap. Comparably. I just ordered a code scanner and battery load. Testershould be here in a couple of days. Based on videos I've seen. And things I've read online. It's either a cell in the battery. That's gone bad or it's the starter. The batteries only 11 months old. But I did Leave the car in the garage without starting it for about 2 and a 1/2 months through the heavy winter. Without turning over the engine. Out of sight out of mind that was my bad Use the multimeter to test the alternator and it was showing fine

@JNicholsKnows

4 ай бұрын

Battery load tester only shows 118 of 580 cold cranking amps I guess it is the battery weird, though that it's still showing the 12.4 to 12.6 V. Then we turn it over jumps to 14. Something just like a real or good battery.

Your finger was in the way of seeing things you were pointing out--like the ac and dc.

@StevesGarage

6 ай бұрын

DC Volts is a V with a dotted line, AC Volts is a V with a curved line.

ok

@StevesGarage

8 ай бұрын

Alright

This guy know just enough to be dangerous I would take advice from him on how to repair a bird house 🙄

@StevesGarage

2 ай бұрын

Want to share some advice? I love learning.

I remember when batteries lasted 10 years 😑

@StevesGarage

2 ай бұрын

I guess I'm too young to remember that!

@buffystclair9042

Ай бұрын

Now you done it! Jinxed me that is . My battery is 9 years old this September, date in service when I bought my truck.

@StevesGarage

Ай бұрын

@@buffystclair9042 Wow, that's impressive! I've never had a battery last me that long. Sorry for jinxing you! 😆

A parasitic test can also be done with a multimeter.

@StevesGarage

3 ай бұрын

It can! And it's an important test if the battery health is good and you're having problems with it holding a charge. Maybe I'll make a video for that test as well.

Seriously? Battery connections were wrong... You CAN load test a battery with a voltmeter. Dude - so wrong.

@StevesGarage

2 ай бұрын

How are the connections wrong? As far as a load test, cranking/starting the car with a multimeter connected is sort of like a load test, but you're relying on capturing a split second reading from a multimeter display. The better way to load test is hooking up a load tester. They will give you a better reading of how the battery is handling a constant load.

@bivideo7

2 ай бұрын

@@StevesGarage The meter leads must be on the battery POSTS - not the terminals. Corrosion between them will cause a flawed reading. Auto part stores sell batteries misusing their load tester by failing to isolate the battery. Your test would fail if the terminals were corroded. It would erroneously show a failed battery. Voltage drops add up.

@StevesGarage

2 ай бұрын

@@bivideo7 You're right about reading from the posts and not the terminals. I was working by myself shooting this video which is why I stuck them between the terminal and the post. I'll have to get someone to help me next time!

@tedlahm5740

2 ай бұрын

Fancy multimeters can set to capture high and low voltage for your crank test of the voltage?

@bivideo7

2 ай бұрын

@@tedlahm5740 MIN/MAX setting

Very helpful! If the battery cable has some corrosion where it attaches but I touch the probes on the top of each post like you did, would the reading still be correct?

@StevesGarage

6 ай бұрын

Yea that should work fine. But definitely clean up that corrosion and use some dielectric grease when you put it back together!