What should the voltage be for a car battery to start?

What should the voltage be for a car battery to start?

Check the voltage when cranking the engine, if it drops below 10 or 11 volts the battery probably needs replacing. Also check the voltage when it is running, it should be 14 volts or more. If it is not then the alternator is not charging. You can’t post conmments that contain an email address.

What does it mean when your car battery won’t start?

There are few things more frustrating than discovering that your car won’t start because the battery is dead. A mechanic can measure the voltage in the battery, in order to determine whether it needs to be replaced. There are two ways to do this. This car battery test determines how fully charged your battery is.

Why does my Car Battery Read 13 volts?

This means that your 12-volt battery can actually read as 13.2 volts instead of 12 when it is not fully charged. Most drivers never want to experience their car not starting or a bad battery. If you cannot turn on your car, let alone drive it to work or school, a bad battery, alternator, or starter are often at fault.

When do you take a car battery test?

This car battery test determines how fully charged your battery is. This test is done twelve hours after shutting off your car, so that any surface charge can dissipate. This means a more accurate reading. The test is done with the engine off.

Check the voltage when cranking the engine, if it drops below 10 or 11 volts the battery probably needs replacing. Also check the voltage when it is running, it should be 14 volts or more. If it is not then the alternator is not charging. You can’t post conmments that contain an email address.

This means that your 12-volt battery can actually read as 13.2 volts instead of 12 when it is not fully charged. Most drivers never want to experience their car not starting or a bad battery. If you cannot turn on your car, let alone drive it to work or school, a bad battery, alternator, or starter are often at fault.

When to know if a car battery is bad?

Most good batteries when a serious load like a starter is put on them will drop 1 to 1.5 volts during the load, then quickly return to full charge once over. If you notice the battery drop from 12.5 down to say, 8 or 9 volts or lower, this is an indicator that the battery may indeed be bad. 4.

Can a car start with a low voltage?

It is quite possible to start an auto with a low voltage provided that equipment is new and does not require repair and the battery is charged from a generator while an engine is operating. The main thing is not to turn such jump-starting into a regular practice. Refer to this approach only in extreme situations.