Interstate battery tester how to#
Interstate battery tester pro#

What you want is to have a voltage higher than 13 volts. Once you've turned your car on, go and take a look at the multimeter. Now, just because your battery registers around 12.5 volts doesn't mean you have a good battery, but that's what we are about to find out.

You should have a resting voltage of around 12.5 volts. The negative terminal is usually black with a negative sign on it. The positive terminal is usually red with a plus sign on it. I’ll give you a moment to locate and match the terminals. Now, locate your battery and connect the multimeter to the positive and negative terminals. While you wait, set the multimeter to 0 to 20 volts. This will get rid of any surface charge the battery may have. Let’s get started.įirst, turn the headlights on and leave them on for about two minutes. Now, this may look like a piece of alien technology, but it’s actually very easy to use. These neat little devices are used to measure the voltage of your car battery. You can find them at your nearest car part store as well as online. So how do we pros test car batteries? It’s easy, all you need is one of these bad boys. The last thing you want is a dead battery when you least expect it. Whatever the reason, a test is always a good idea if you’re having concerns. Driving shorter distances and jump-starting multiple times can also be to blame. And often a low battery can be caused by charging too many devices for long periods of time, severe temperatures both hot and cold. So before summer hits with those high 90s or winter drops below freezing, check your battery to make sure it’s in good shape. Now, the older your battery, the more vulnerable it becomes, especially when the weather makes a big turn. Here’s another one, you start the engine but all you get is this noise: Or you check the battery and realize it’s swollen like a football, also not good.

Interstate battery tester pro#

Get that stinky thing to a pro like me and we’ll check it out. There’s also the smell of rotten eggs this is a battery that is overcharging. There are a few signs of a bad battery: for example, you may get a battery icon on your dashboard like this one. Now, when is it a good time for a test? Well, for starters a battery is at its best for three years, so, if your battery is three years or older it’s a good time to keep an eye on it. As with most things, it’s always better to get a checkup before things get worse.

Interstate battery tester how to#

The handheld tester easily scans a vehicle’s identification number (VIN) and battery UPC to provide fast, accurate results to customers.įeatures of the IB Pulse include a lightweight handheld design, made to be easy to hold with one hand a custom Android operating system with an intuitive touchscreen app, VIN scanner and wireless communication a durable Gorilla Glass touchscreen interface and a separate control keypad for use while wearing gloves stronger clamps with convenient built-in storage a compact, wall-mountable charger with redundant charging ports and field replaceable parts to minimize downtime and repair costs.Hey there, I’m an Interstate Batteries pro and I’m here to show you how to test your battery like a pro. The IB Pulse, developed with more than 10 years of technician feedback and field research, is designed for the way technician’s work: Smarter, Better, Faster. Those insights were invaluable in making the IB Pulse smarter, better and faster.” to understand the technician’s experience firsthand. “We surveyed 2,000 technicians across the country to make sure the IB Pulse is a battery tester designed for the way technicians really work,” said Brian Madeley, general manager of Charging/Testing at Interstate Batteries. With the launch, Interstate Batteries expands its portfolio of battery testers to better meet the needs of automotive dealers, retailers and installers. Interstate Batteries recently announced the IB Pulse – The Tech’s Tester, at the Automotive Aftermarket Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.