If you’re unsure how to check your car battery health, the easiest thing to do is get a free battery health test from your nearest Marshall Batteries store.
You can use the ‘Visual Test’ or the ‘Light Test’ to check if your battery needs replacing, but a multimeter (if you have one) will give you a more accurate reading.
You don’t want to get caught out with a flat battery. Marshall Batteries will test your battery for free in-store and install a new battery if you need one.
Caught out with a flat battery? Call 1300 627 742 day or night and we’ll come to you – no membership fees required!
Table of Contents
1. How To Check Your Car Battery Health Without Equipment
*Here is how to check your battery health without a multimeter if you’re unable to come in-store.
Visual Test
- Leave your car off for an hour or so.
- Lift your bonnet and locate your battery.
- Remove or unclip the plastic caps that cover the battery terminals.
- Check for corrosion on the terminals and the terminal clamps.
If there’s not too much corrosion and you feel confident, you can clean the terminals using fine-grit sandpaper or a brush and a cloth. Be careful not to let any tools touch both terminals simultaneously.
If there’s a lot of rust or corrosion, it’s best to bring the car to your nearest Marshall Batteries Store and our team will look at it for you. We can provide and install a new battery if needed. You can also buy a new car battery and fit it yourself if that is your preference.
Light Test
- Turn your ignition key on so the dashboard lights up, but don’t start the engine.
- Leave for 10 minutes like this.
- Start your engine, but ask a friend to watch the headlights as you start the car.
- If the lights remain bright, your battery is in good health. If they go dim as the car starts, the battery health is not as it should be and you most likely need a car battery replacement.
If these tests raise concerns about your car battery health, you can always check your closest store for a free battery health check.
If your battery is dead, Holler for a Marshall and we’ll come to you.
2. How To Check Your Car Battery With A Multimeter
*Checking your battery with a multimeter is a more accurate way to check battery health.
You’ll need:
- A spanner or ratchet and sockets.
- Protective gloves and safety glasses.
- A Multimeter.
To ensure an accurate ‘resting voltage’ reading, test the battery after your car has been sitting overnight.
Then follow these steps:
- Lift the bonnet and locate your car battery.
- Using the ratchet and sockets, remove plastic covers, exposing the terminals. You don’t need to remove the battery from the car completely, you just need to be able to access the terminals.
- Set your multimeter to measure “DCV”, and if it has a range, adjust it to “20V”.
- Wearing the protective gloves and safety glasses, touch the negative probe to the negative terminal, and the positive probe to the positive terminal.
- If your battery is reading less than 12.5V, it’s not passed its health check, and you’ll need to pop in for a replacement car battery. You don’t want to get caught out with a flat battery.
Check out our Battery Finder tool to get a quote and the right battery for your vehicle.
Getting negative readings on your multimeter? You’ve probably got the probes on the wrong terminals! 😉
3. Get A Free Battery Health Check at Marshall Batteries
The best and easiest option for everyone is to come in for a free car battery health check. We can test your battery efficiently and provide reliable advice on what to do next. Modern cars need to be calibrated with the new car battery,
If your battery does need replacing, Marshall can replace it straight away. Marshall Battery Stores use the latest in vehicle diagnostic and scan tools to ensure your new battery is aligned to the cars onboard computer, and it is registered and receiving the right charge rates.
Customers love our competitive prices, helpful guidance and a nationwide warranty on all our products.
This is what Stefan had to say:
“Thank you so much for the great customer service. Not only do they sell batteries at great prices, but they are also nice enough to spend some time and discuss issues, symptoms and problems. Performed a battery test and even installed my new battery.
Thank you for the great service.”
Don’t waste time on Google and YouTube, come in-store and get your battery tested for free today.
*Marshall Batteries recommends using our trained Battery Experts. There are risks to personal injury, vehicles, and on-board computers by undertaking testing or battery replacement work on your own vehicle. By actioning any of the information on this or other online blogs from this website, the user recognises these risks and releases Marshall Batteries from any and all liability.