Car batteries are required for the proper vehicle operation, and just like other things, the car batteries do fail. The dead battery runs down, and the vehicle fails to start. Therefore, it is essential to test your battery regularly.
By checking the battery at least twice a week can reduce the chance of battery failure. For this purpose, you can use the multimeter. There are many other simple and easy ways to test your battery even at home without any tool at home.
Here you will get to know all the ways to test your battery even if you do not have any equipment. So. Stay here to complete your reading.
What Goes Wrong?
The car battery contains lead plates and is designed as a chemical reactor that can generate voltage. But, the battery’s ability to generate current either decreases or diminishes within a few three to four years.
Well, there could be several reasons for the failure of a battery. The very first and the most important for battery failure is high-speed. And the second most important reason for this failure is the slow decline of voltage, resulting in prolonged engine cranking. Being a driver, it is your responsibility to check whether the battery is working correctly or is dead.
How Do I Know if My Car Battery is Bad?
The battery can show some of the apparent signs before getting dead. The following are signs of a dead car battery:
- Terminals of the battery are corroded
- Battery lights come on
- The car is not working, not even a single part
- Engines become at turnover
- Battery is bulging
- Headlights become dim
- The car turns over, but it is not possible for the engine to turnover
- Interior lights of the car can be turned on, but the car didn’t start
What Causes a Car Battery to Drain?
The following are the possible reason for a bad battery:
- Extreme weather conditions
- Corrosion
- Time
- Poor battery connections
- A dome light is leeching power
- A short in the system
- The faulty charging system, including the lousy alternator
Ways To Test The Battery Without Tools
Sometimes it can be almost impossible to find the real reason for an electrical problem in your car. So, whenever you face any issue, check the battery of your car. As the car batteries can stop working at any time, it is essential to diagnose the problem. Correctly and safely.
A multimeter is one of the cheap tools which can be used to check or investigate the battery. If you are not having any tool around you, there are still several ways to test the battery. A few of them are described just below:
1. Battery Test And Inspection
To inspect the battery’s condition, you would have to open the car hood and then check the battery. Here you need to check whether there is any leakage or even bulging of the battery. Both of these show the short circuit in the wrapped internal plates of the battery. So, in this condition, you would have to charge the battery.
2. Load Test
Load test or headlight test is an imperfect way to test your battery. But it could be an easy and better option while you want to check your battery’s life or health.
While performing any test, you need to take extra care if you are not a technician. The load test is elementary and straightforward to perform so that you can do it without difficulty.
Follow the given steps to perform the load test:
- Turn the headlights on, but without turning on the car
- Leave the light “ON” for about 10 to 15 minutes
- After few minutes, start your car
- And now you need to observe the brightness of the headlights
If the headlights become dim as you turn on the car, the battery fails to pass the load test. The battery should have enough charge to keep the headlight turned on before your turn on the car. But as the battery has not enough power, it is a clear sign that depicts it’s the right time to change the battery.
3. Check For Corrosion
Corrosion is one of the very most straightforward issues which your car battery can face. There are several possible reasons for the corrosion, but one of the primary reasons is the acid. The acid present in the battery releases hydrogen gas, which can interfere with the terminals, so the car fails to get the required power.
So, as a result, the battery has to perform more work, but this decreases the battery life.
The corrosion can be removed simply by using baking soda. But, if the battery has been facing this condition for a long time, it would be irreversible.
4. Use Auto Parts Stores
Many auto parts stores offer you free services so that you can visit those stores for battery testing. It will be a great option if you do not have the time to visit the shop.
5. Use The Virtual Battery Tester
It may be surprising for you that the internet can also help you check the battery’s life. For this purpose, you need to visit the virtual battery tester and enter the car’s year, model, make, type, engine, and zip code. And then enter the Find Out Now.
The tester will tell you the expected lifespan of your battery. Just remember that different other factors like corrosion or weather can alter the lifespan of your battery.
6. Listen For Clicks
The rapid clicking produces a bizarre soundtrack in a lifeless battery, just the same way you see in horror movies.
When you turn the key over the ignition in normal conditions, you hear a lively roar that settles into a purr most of the time. But, with a dead car battery, you always listen click-click-click over and over again. And a single click depicts a bad start as well.
These clicks do not indicate that it is time to replace the battery, but you have to consult the technician before everything gets worst.
Cost For New Battery
The battery can provide the required voltage or power for about four years, but you would have to charge the battery after that. There are many places from you can get the battery for your car. The battery’s price depends on several factors such as the brand, model of your, etc.
Mainly the price for a new battery varies from $50 to $150. If you want to get some premium quality batteries, you would have to pay more than $300 for that. But before you get the new battery, it is essential to check your vehicle’s requirements and get the battery just accordingly.
Final Words
The battery is an essential part of the car or vehicle, which provides the necessary power to the vehicles. But just like other parts, the battery also has a specific lifespan. And after three to four years, the battery can become dead. Therefore, it is highly recommended to check your battery regularly so that it may not cause any issue at the last moment.
Therefore, here we have describes one of the best ways to monitor or check your battery even at home with tools.
