Battery Testing

[rtquig]

Can the Batteries on the Dmax be tested while connected or does one of the positve cables need to be disconnected so you don't read the voltage from the other battery?

 

[jrkrace]

Take them both out or disconnect both and load test them. That's the best way.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Take them both out or disconnect both and load test them. That's the best way.

Agreed

 

[rtquig]

Thanks guys, I'm going to do that this morning while they are "cold" and not started yet.

 

[rtquig]

Isolated and testing the batteries seperate. One battery was 12.66 and the other was 12.41. This was not under load.

 

[SfcJones]

that is pretty much normal voltage wise, however it doesn't mean too much unless you load test them.

 

[dms4x4]

I took my truck in to Orschleins, a regional farm type store, because the batteries that were purchased there seemed to be weak. They have some kind of electronic gizmo they hooked up on the terminals. It measured the voltage, temperature, and CCA, then printed out a ticket saying if the battery was good or not, based on the battery model which was entered. He tested both batteries, hooking up the cables on one side, then the other while the cables were still connected. They did the same test last fall, and gave me a battery as a result. The truck is a '93 GMC.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

I took my truck in to Orschleins, a regional farm type store, because the batteries that were purchased there seemed to be weak. They have some kind of electronic gizmo they hooked up on the terminals. It measured the voltage, temperature, and CCA, then printed out a ticket saying if the battery was good or not, based on the battery model which was entered. He tested both batteries, hooking up the cables on one side, then the other while the cables were still connected. They did the same test last fall, and gave me a battery as a result. The truck is a '93 GMC.

I REALLY dislike these kinds of battery testers as I have seen them pass batteries that were junk many times. The only real way to test a battery and all of it's connecting straps is with a good old fashioned load tester of at least 100 amps.

 

[rtquig]

I ended up putting 2 new Napa Legend 75 batteries 770 CCA. They are now made by Deka/East Penn. They were made this month so at least I started out with a fresh battery.

 

[Turbine Doc]

Cheap and effective way to know if batts need changing Harbor Freight has a basic one seen below, or a more "deluxe one" carbon pile load test good for 500 amps disconnect and isolate

 

[rtquig]

Auto zone sells the same one, I think it was either $44 or $49. I will buy it next time I'm in the store for future use.