How do you test the battery to see if it is ok the battery is dead we are trying to find out if it is the?

Question

alterbator or battery problem on 97 hyundai elentra

Answer 1

Pull the battery out and bring it to an auto parts store. Most have a machine which will test the battery for you.

Answer 2

Well there are a couple of things you can do:

If you have a fairly nice battery charger that also tests whether the battery is bad, you'll need to charge the battery at a very low rate or just leave the charger on it to get at least a little juice in the battery before you test it. Otherwise the tester may think the battery is bad when the battery is still good.

If you want to have the alternator checked, you can go to Advanced Auto, Napa, Auto Zone or pretty much any auto store and they should have a machine that they can test your alternator for free to see if it is bad.

Also look at the age of your battery. If your battery is over 5-6 years old or so, then it is probably a good idea to replace the battery even if it is still working OK because most car batteries won't last beyond 6-7 years.

If you charge the battery up, and are able to get it charged up enough in like a half hour of charging to start then you drive the car around and the car won't restart after having driven the car around then either the alternator is bad or something is preventing the alternator from charging the battery such as a frayed battery cable, corroded battery cable, a bad solenoid or a loose battery cable somewhere.

So check the battery cables if that happens and have an auto store check the alternator to see if it is good. Your alternator is somewhat expensive to replace. It is much cheaper to replace a solenoid or a battery cable if that is all that is bad. So make sure you go through the right steps in determining the problem.

As far as buying batteries, check the number of years that it is warranted for and the number of cold cranking amps. Usually the more cold cranking amps it has the better of a battery it is. The more cold cranking amps it has the easier it will start your car.

Don't pull the alternator. There is no reason to pull it unless you have to. The auto store should have a clamp they can place on it to test it without you having to remove the alternator. Also, in order to pull it you will probably have to get a tool to ease the tension on the seperntine belt by the automatic tension adjuster if your car has an automatic tensioner. Most new cars have automatic tension adjusters to keep tension on the serpentine belt. The tool to remove the serpentine belt looks like a bar with a hinged piece on the end. You should be able to find one at Sears.

Answer 3

do you want the right way or the the way everyone does with 60% accuracy? pull the cap off the battery, check and fill the water. charge the battery for about 2 hours, off the vehicle. then stick a battery hygrometer in each cell. A fully charged battery should have specific gravity of 2.1V per cell. less than 2.0 is a low battery. The hygrometer has a scale on it to help you decipher the batteries disposition. Checking the carbon piles is ok, but doesnt check the strength of the battery. The testers at the parts store are ok, but alot depends on the coditio of the battery. the battery should be charged before testing and at a temp of at least 75 degress F . no one ever does that. look up any battery manufacturer's site and you will find this info.

Answer 4

For most battery diagnostics you need some type of tools to check properly. Not expensive to buy but any real man should have the basics so you do not have to run to the auto parts place every time. Chicks dig guys with tools.

1) volt meter, about ~$12.00 at Walmart or similar store.
and or,
2) Hygrometer, the tools looks like a turkey baster with a bulb and some colored floating 'balls' - which is also available at most auto stores

For the Hygrometer, pop a battery cap off the battery and suck up some battery juice. The number or color of floating balls indicate the condition of the battery. Do not get the juice on yourself, your clother or anything else - it contains Sulpheric Acid and you want no part of that...unless you want you clother to like like some 1980's hair band.

For the ultimate in knowledge and skill, you want to use the battery meter (or multimeter, as it is often called). Chicks dig guys that can use a battery meter and you will be the hero. Turn your meter 'on' and set the dial for Volts DC - ('Direct Current') and connect the red lead to the positive (+) battery post and black lead to the negative(-) battery post. You can just hold them there for the test because it will take all of about 3 seconds to get the reading you need :-)

If the meter read between 12.5 and 12.8(or higher!) then the battery is OK and can be charged...If the meter reads below 12.5 you are in trouble... 12.2 or lower means that the battery is DEAD. This battery may or may not ever charge back to life....

If you can start the car by jump starting or roll starting the car, repeat the test process above. Be sure to rev the motor above 2500RPM first to be sure the charging system kicks in, then test the battery again. If the alternator is sending electricity to the battery, the meter will read 13 to 14.5 volts (or higher!). If you get no increase in voltage then there is something wrong withthe charging circuit; the volatge regulater or the alternator or both. This needs to be fixed.

You need to pull the alternator and take it to an auto parts place to test it. You don't want to get involved with alternator testing )Get another battery while you are there :-)

Answer 5

in case you acquire a automobile with a 5 365 days previous battery, then it wasn't a foul funding-the needed existence of a battery down the following in Florida, because of the warm temperature, is in easy words about 3 years. the significant question I really have is-have you ever had any more advantageous problems with the automobile because you replaced the battery?

Answer 6

You can get a volt meter and test the battery and see if it holding the 12.5 volts. If it is then the easy way to see if is the alternator is to start the car and dissconect the positive battery cable. If the car dies then it is the alternator that is bad.

Answer 7

battery repair shop has instrument to test it. but if you want to do it yourself. compiled the following data in your file

using ammeter measure a good battery short circuit current through your ammeter. record this current as good battery initial ampere

repeat the same test on a bad battery. record this current as bad battery ampere

repeat the same test on your battery. you can judge relatively how bad is your battery.

a good battery has 2.04V /cell, a completely drained battery has 1.98V /cell. it will be hard to get an accurate voltmeter for measuring battery

Answer 8

you 'll have to charge the battery first if its dead and have a load test to see if its OK......you might also want to check the belt too.

Answer 9

problematic step. do a search with a search engine. that will may help!

Answer 10

blueman2 has the correct answer