If you notice that your vehicle is getting harder to start in the morning or after it's been sitting for a while, or the battery does not seem to be holding a full charge anymore, you may want to consider having it tested to determine if there is an issue. Car battery testing can help you diagnose issues with the electrical system and determine if the battery is the problem or if something else is affecting the battery's charge.  

How Your Battery Works

Most cars and trucks use a compact lead-acid automotive battery that holds enough power to turn over the engine, even in the cold weather. The battery is designed to be discharged when starting the engine and recharged while the car runs. 

Over time, the charge the battery will hold diminishes, and you must replace the battery. Batteries typically come with a rating that can be several years or longer, but as they approach the end of their life, they may start to lose performance. 

In some situations, the lead plates inside the battery can become dislodged and make contact with each other, causing an internal short that will cause the battery to fail sooner rather than later, but detecting this issue often requires car battery testing.

Battery Testing

If you suspect an issue with your vehicle's battery, you may want to consider car battery testing to determine the condition. Most auto repair shops can test automotive batteries, and you can bring the car in with the battery still in place or remove the battery and have it tested out of the vehicle. 

The shop's testing platform will assess the battery's condition by evaluating the voltage, amperage, state of charge, and potential for internal shorts. The battery will also undergo a load test that will simulate the conditions that the battery is under during cold starting to determine if it can put out the needed amps for a sustained period. 

Each of these tests is completed and logged, and a report is then generated that will indicate the battery's condition. Comprehensive car battery testing is often the best way to determine if the battery is good, so you can decide whether or not you need to replace it. 

Some things can mimic car battery problems in your automobile that are actually related to other parts of the system, and car battery testing can help uncover them. A bad alternator, a faulty starter, or an electrical short can all cause the battery to appear to underperform even when it is in perfect condition. Battery testing is an excellent place to start, and many shops will do it for free if you bring the car or the battery to them. 

Contact a local auto shop to learn more about battery testing.