battery too low to test ?
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 103
battery too low to test ?
I put in an Optima redtop battery in my car about a year ago, and last time when I stopped by CanadianTire for an oil change, they tested the battery for free, but the report showed up saying that the voltage was 'too low to test' ? i have never heard of that and my car seems to be able to start ok. if it were too low to test, would i be able to start the car ? or just becuase it is an Optima and they have no idea how to test it (if the test should be different), would appreciate any input from you guys.
Thanks
Thanks
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 300
Somebody didn't know what the heck they were doing. For your car to start, you need somewhere above 12 Volts to the starter. It's impossible for your car to start and for the voltage to be "too low". BTW, there's nothing different you have to do to test voltage on an Optima battery.
Did they test the battery while the car was running? If so it is possible that your alternator is not putting out enough voltage.
Easiest thing to do is to get a Volt meter and test the battery yourself.
- With the engine off, put the leads of the meter to the terminals of the battery. Voltage should read between 12 and 13 volts. If the reading is lower than 12 V, clean all of the terminals until they are shiny, reconnect, and retest (use sand paper or a steel brush). If the voltage is still lower than 12, you could have a bad alternator (not putting out enough voltage while the car is running to charge the batt.) or you could have a bad battery that is getting enough voltage from the alt. but can't hold a charge.
- With the engine running, do the same thing (voltmeter to batt. terminals). Voltage should read somewhere between 14 and 15 Volts. If the voltage reads the same as when you measured it with the engine off, then you have a bad alternator.
Even if you do all of the above, there are still some things to check. Figured I'd start you with the easy stuff first.
If you don’t have a voltmeter, buy one! They are not that expensive and they can save you a lot of time and money by helping you to troubleshoot electrical things yourself.
Did they test the battery while the car was running? If so it is possible that your alternator is not putting out enough voltage.
Easiest thing to do is to get a Volt meter and test the battery yourself.
- With the engine off, put the leads of the meter to the terminals of the battery. Voltage should read between 12 and 13 volts. If the reading is lower than 12 V, clean all of the terminals until they are shiny, reconnect, and retest (use sand paper or a steel brush). If the voltage is still lower than 12, you could have a bad alternator (not putting out enough voltage while the car is running to charge the batt.) or you could have a bad battery that is getting enough voltage from the alt. but can't hold a charge.
- With the engine running, do the same thing (voltmeter to batt. terminals). Voltage should read somewhere between 14 and 15 Volts. If the voltage reads the same as when you measured it with the engine off, then you have a bad alternator.
Even if you do all of the above, there are still some things to check. Figured I'd start you with the easy stuff first.
If you don’t have a voltmeter, buy one! They are not that expensive and they can save you a lot of time and money by helping you to troubleshoot electrical things yourself.
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 169
Originally Posted by Nissan SE-R
Somebody didn't know what the heck they were doing. For your car to start, you need somewhere above 12 Volts to the starter. It's impossible for your car to start and for the voltage to be "too low". BTW, there's nothing different you have to do to test voltage on an Optima battery.
Did they test the battery while the car was running? If so it is possible that your alternator is not putting out enough voltage.
Easiest thing to do is to get a Volt meter and test the battery yourself.
- With the engine off, put the leads of the meter to the terminals of the battery. Voltage should read between 12 and 13 volts. If the reading is lower than 12 V, clean all of the terminals until they are shiny, reconnect, and retest (use sand paper or a steel brush). If the voltage is still lower than 12, you could have a bad alternator (not putting out enough voltage while the car is running to charge the batt.) or you could have a bad battery that is getting enough voltage from the alt. but can't hold a charge.
- With the engine running, do the same thing (voltmeter to batt. terminals). Voltage should read somewhere between 14 and 15 Volts. If the voltage reads the same as when you measured it with the engine off, then you have a bad alternator.
Even if you do all of the above, there are still some things to check. Figured I'd start you with the easy stuff first. If you don’t have a voltmeter, buy one! They are not that expensive and they can save you a lot of time and money by helping you to troubleshoot electrical things yourself.
Did they test the battery while the car was running? If so it is possible that your alternator is not putting out enough voltage.
Easiest thing to do is to get a Volt meter and test the battery yourself.
- With the engine off, put the leads of the meter to the terminals of the battery. Voltage should read between 12 and 13 volts. If the reading is lower than 12 V, clean all of the terminals until they are shiny, reconnect, and retest (use sand paper or a steel brush). If the voltage is still lower than 12, you could have a bad alternator (not putting out enough voltage while the car is running to charge the batt.) or you could have a bad battery that is getting enough voltage from the alt. but can't hold a charge.
- With the engine running, do the same thing (voltmeter to batt. terminals). Voltage should read somewhere between 14 and 15 Volts. If the voltage reads the same as when you measured it with the engine off, then you have a bad alternator.
Even if you do all of the above, there are still some things to check. Figured I'd start you with the easy stuff first.
If you don’t have a voltmeter, buy one! They are not that expensive and they can save you a lot of time and money by helping you to troubleshoot electrical things yourself.dude you are trying but there is a couple of things that are not really true. 1st--the starter draw should be around 10v starters do not need 12v to actually start
2-the battery voltage with vehicle off should not be higher than 12.6v. if any higher the battery is over charged. the alternator is overcharging--that is not always the case--everytime the voltage is above 12.6v
3--the voltage while the vehicle is running should be between 13-14 volts--usually around 13.8 but not every car is the same.
--note that checking alternator out put should be done 2 different ways--with the test leads across the battery terminals and the positive lead at the alternator cable(the cable that is held on by the 12mm nut) and the negative test lead on the neg battery terminal--if there is 13-14 volts at the alternator but only battery voltage at the battery(while vehicle is running) then there is a problem with the positive cable.
There is some help
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