
If your car isn’t starting, or if it’s starting but not holding a charge very well, your car battery might be failing. It’s important to know how to tell if your car battery is failing because if it is, you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible.
This post will explain the signs that your car battery is on its way out. We’ll also guide you on testing your battery to see if it needs to be replaced. Keep reading for more information.
How to Test Your Car Battery?
The easiest way to check your car battery is through a multimeter. A multimeter can tell you if your battery is charging at an acceptable rate. It also lets you test for more complicated problems such as excessive resistance in the cables or alternator failures. If there are any issues with either one of these things, then your battery will not be getting a full charge, leading to early failure.
To test your car battery with a multimeter:
- Turn off all electrical accessories such as lights and radio before testing.
- Set the multimeter to read DC voltage, then connect the black lead of your meter to the negative post on the battery while connecting the red one to the positive pole, respectively.
- If the result shows 12.6V or above, it means that your car’s charging system is working properly; if it’s below 12.0V, then there might be a problem with your battery or charging system, and you should take your car to the mechanic for further inspection.
Your Car Now Takes Longer to Start
Another way of checking whether your battery is in good condition or not is by observing its performance while starting up the engine. If the battery seems weak and unable to start the engine, even though it was working just fine a few weeks ago, that might be an indication that it’s on its way out.
To test this, try starting your car several times in quick succession. If it fails to start up after the second or third attempt, there’s a good chance battery is failing.
The Dashboard Lights are Dimmer Now
Another indication that your battery might be on the way out is that dashboard lights appear dim when you start up the car. If they are bright and work fine before starting, then become dim while the engine is running, it could mean the battery might not have enough power to supply electricity to everything in the vehicle at once.
This can happen if there’s a wiring problem. Still, if it occurs on its own and with no other symptoms that might indicate otherwise, you should consider the possibility of battery failure.
Terminals and Cables are Corroded
If the terminals and cables on your battery are corroded, it means that they’re not making a good connection with the battery. This can lead to power loss and decreased performance of your car. You might be able to clean corrosion off yourself using baking soda or vinegar, but if it’s too severe, you may need to take your car to a mechanic.
If you see any of the signs of battery failure, visit our dealership service center at Cutter CDJR Honolulu, serving Honolulu, HI, for battery testing and replacement.
Schedule an appointment for battery service today!


