

To use a multimeter, you first need to set it to 20 DC volts. You can buy a multimeter at most auto part shops and hardware stores for around $10 to $20. The easiest way to test your car battery’s voltage is with a multimeter. If the voltage goes down each time you test it, your battery is probably dying. The best way to find out if your battery is dying is to read the voltage on your battery several times over an extended period. However, you should keep in mind that a battery that reads low isn’t necessarily dying. What Should the Car Battery Voltage Be When Running?Ī standard 12-volt battery should have a voltage between 13.5 and 14.5 volts when the car is running. I will also explain how you can tell if your battery is dying, the cost of a new battery, and how often your battery will need replacing.

#12 volt car battery voltage how to
In this article, I will discuss what voltage your battery should be at when your car’s running and how to test your battery’s voltage. While a car is running, the battery voltage should be between 13.5 and 14.5 volts. Yet, a low voltage does not necessarily mean a battery is dying since some batteries simply run low.Instead, to tell if it’s dying, you should check your battery periodically to see if the voltage is decreasing. Thus, a low battery voltage could affect your car’s performance.īut, you’re probably wondering, what exactly is an adequate battery voltage? Your battery supplies your car with power.
