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Car battery test

  • 21-07-2016 9:38am
    #1
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭


    Anybody know of a garage or motor factors that could carry out a battery test in the Leixlip/Lucan area? Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Every single mechanic can do this. Just go to whoever is nearest.

    Or you can buy a volt meter in your closest motor factors and do it yourself.


  • #3
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,616 ✭✭✭grogi


    biko wrote: »
    Every single mechanic can do this. Just go to whoever is nearest.

    Or you can buy a volt meter in your closest motor factors and do it yourself.

    If the battery is not completely broken, majority of time it will show correct voltage under no load. It is under stress the flaws are revealed - and you cannot do it with a simple multimeter.

    Sure - one can switch all lights and heating, but this is nowhere close to the starting current...


  • #4
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭degsie


    grogi wrote: »
    If the battery is not completely broken, majority of time it will show correct voltage under no load. It is under stress the flaws are revealed - and you cannot do it with a simple multimeter.

    Sure - one can switch all lights and heating, but this is nowhere close to the starting current...

    So I'm assuming that a garage can test for the starting current? Can they also confirm if the battery has bad cells etc?


  • #5
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,616 ✭✭✭grogi


    degsie wrote: »
    So I'm assuming that a garage can test for the starting current? Can they also confirm if the battery has bad cells etc?

    Usually a high power resistor under an even bigger radiator to stress-test does the job.

    Something like that:
    619YMTPydIS._SL1100_.jpg


  • #6
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    OP, maybe you can elaborate a bit on what the issue is with the battery?
    It doesn't start car up or...?


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  • #7
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭degsie


    biko wrote: »
    OP, maybe you can elaborate a bit on what the issue is with the battery?
    It doesn't start car up or...?

    Didn't start the other day, had to get a jump start. I was cleaning the car earlier with doors open and radio on for most of the time. I brought if for a short run and the car wouldn't start. I'm trying to figure out if I have a dud battery or did it just drain too much.

    PS. It's been starting just fine since.


  • #8
    CiniO
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,069 ✭✭✭✭CiniO


    grogi wrote: »
    If the battery is not completely broken, majority of time it will show correct voltage under no load. It is under stress the flaws are revealed - and you cannot do it with a simple multimeter.

    Sure - one can switch all lights and heating, but this is nowhere close to the starting current...

    Can you not plug in multimeter and try starting the engine?


  • #9
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,616 ✭✭✭grogi


    CiniO wrote: »
    Can you not plug in multimeter and try starting the engine?

    If you have long enough arms. :D


  • #10
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,688 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    degsie wrote: »
    Didn't start the other day, had to get a jump start. I was cleaning the car earlier with doors open and radio on for most of the time. I brought if for a short run and the car wouldn't start. I'm trying to figure out if I have a dud battery or did it just drain too much.

    PS. It's been starting just fine since.

    Sounds like a battery that is on the way out.
    A good battery would survive radio and parking lights etc being on for a long time.


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