How To Take Your Car Battery Voltage

Mar 16, 2021

Your car battery is one of its most important components. Without it, every piece of electronics within your car won't be able to function. You also can't start your engine, use your air conditioning, lower your windows (if using power windows) or even listen to music!


For these reasons, it's important for every car owner to know more about their car battery than just entrusting every detail to their mechanic or repairman. One of the most important factors when it comes to your car battery is to understand its voltage and current charge status. Once you know this, you'll be able to diagnose your car battery's condition adequately!




Why is your car battery voltage important


A car battery's voltage is one of the significant measures of its condition - if the voltage is dangerously low, your car battery is likely damaged and requires repair or replacement.


Your car battery also plays the important role of stabilizing the circuit voltage of your car when you car engine is charging it, preventing your electrical systems from being overloaded.


Most importantly, without a functionally charged car battery, you risk not being able to start your car and will be in a situation where you'll need the help of a jumpstart or repair service.


For these reasons, it is advisable to always check your car battery's condition and its suitable car battery voltage every month, particularly if your car battery has aged to at least 3 years.




How To Check For Suitable Car Battery Voltage



1.  Use a voltmeter to test your car battery voltage


The most straightforward method to find a suitable car battery voltage for your car is by using a voltmeter - it's a tool that measures the voltage between your car battery and the receiving end of the electrical energy (which are your car's electrical components).


Here are the steps:

  1. Ensure your car's engine is turned off and let your car sit idly for at least 10 minutes
  2. Remove the car battery cover (while cleaning it if possible) and then remove the battery's positive terminal
  3. Attach the voltmeter’s positive lead to the positive lead on your battery
  4. Next, connect the negative voltmeter lead to the negative battery terminal following the same steps you did for the positive end
  5. Now, you are ready to check the readings on your voltmeter 


A suitable car battery voltage for most cars should typically read from 12.4 to 12.8 volts. This means your car battery is in good shape and requires no repair or replacement. 



2.  Use the engine cranking method


Another useful method to check your car battery's suitable voltage is using the engine cranking method. This can be done by first connecting the voltmeter to your car battery via the steps detailed above.


Next, you'll need another person to crank your car's engine for a few seconds as you read the voltmeter concurrently.

If the reading on your voltmeter reads below 9.6 volts, this means that your battery is having difficulty retaining or accepting electrical charges from your engine. In this case, it's best to contact your trusted car battery service provider to either repair or replace your car battery.




Rain or shine, day or night, Ex Power delivers car batteries or repair services to your doorstep


Facing car battery issues? With Ex Power's all-day roadside assistance, you'll have immediate car battery repair and replacement services exactly when and where you need them! Our services come with:


✓ Free installation

✓ Free checking

✓ Free delivery


Check us out at https://www.expower.com.my/ or call us now at +6010 888 9166.

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Malaysians love road trips; that's a fact! With COVID-19, road-tripping is going to be an even more popular way of travelling for many Malaysians! In fact, the roads are already loaded up with vehicles and people who are trying to escape the everyday grind and find an escape somewhere. However, nothing spoils your travel plans like a car breakdown when you're far from home and away from your usual mechanic or service centres! As road trips are supposed to be for fun and relaxation, but a car breakdown will turn that time for pleasure into absolute misery. But you can avoid that if you take some time beforehand to get your car ready for that long trip! Before you leave for your next road trip, here's a quick car battery checklist before long journeys to other states! We'll also cover where you can get your car battery checked for free and where's the best supplier of car battery replacements! A quick checklist before you go on a long journey: a) Check that all your car's fluids are good to go You can either send your car in to a service centre/workshop or do it yourself! Just park your car on a flat ground area and wait a few minutes after you switch the engine off. Then your readings will be correct! If you know how to do it, check the brake fluid , power steering fluid, engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and even windscreen wiper fluid. If any of them are low or look like they're in bad condition, top them up or change them entirely! b) Pay special attention to your engine oil Road trips involve long hours of driving at high speeds - this stresses the engine significantly if it's not performing at its optimal condition! You should perform the standard dipstick test - if it's showing heavy, black signs on the dipstick, or if it's been more than 6 months or you have driven more than 5,000 km since the last engine oil change, consider replacing your engine oil entirely (and even your oil filter) before you depart on the long road trip. For example, CHEMPIOIL Ultra XTT engine oils are fully imported oils that are of high quality for the latest generation of modern gasoline and diesel engines with and without turbocharge! They are a Swiss brand of vehicle lubricants and fluids that can promise: Optimum protection for your car's engine at all temperatures Worry-free driving for the long run Quality 100% synthetic ester technology Reasonable pricing that boasts superior quality over many other engine oils c) Keep a wary eye out for your car's timing belts and hoses Timing belts and cooling system hoses are the most notorious parts for breaking down during road trips. Your car's belts will need to be replaced if they've become loose or worn - this can be detected via screeching sounds or vibrations. If you know how to, you should also inspect your engine's cooling system hoses in the case of cracks, leaks or any other damage to avoid overheating your engine on the road! d) Check the car battery Nothing ruins a road trip vacation like a dead car battery! Hence, it's important to keep your car battery in tip-top shape before going on a long drive! Typically, a lead-acid car battery can last around 4-5 years, but it's always safer to have a quick check even if it's a new-ish car battery. You can have it checked for free at Ex Power Battery ! If your car battery is old, you should definitely get it tested and replaced, as you won't want to wake up the next day with a dead car! A few signs that tell you need a battery replacement include slow or sluggish starts and dim headlights, especially when your car is idle! Why Choose Ex Power for your Car Batteries and Repair Services Rain or shine, day or night, Ex Power delivers car batteries or repair services to your doorstep. With Ex Power's all-day roadside assistance, we provide free checking car battery service to certain locations. You'll also enjoy immediate car battery repair and replacement services exactly when and where you need them! our services come with: ✓ Free installation ✓ Free checking ✓ Free delivery Check us out at https://www.expower.com.my/ or call us now at +6010 888 9166.
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