Battery Testing Procedure
- STEP 1. Check the battery cables.
- Remove the negative cable, then the positive cable.
- Check for dirty or corroded connections.
Q: Are the battery cables dirty or have corroded connections?
YES: Clean the battery cables. Then go to Step 2.
NO: Go to Step 2.
- STEP 2. Check the battery posts.
Check for loose battery post.
Q: Are the battery posts loose?
YES: Replace the battery. Then go to STEP 4.
NO: Go to Step 3.
- STEP 3. Check the battery case and cover.
- Remove the hold-downs and shields.
- Check for broken/cracked case or cover.
Q: Is the battery case or cover faulty?
YES: Replace the battery. Then go to Step 4.
NO: Go to Step 4.
- STEP 4. Check the open circuit voltage.
- Turn headlights on for 15 seconds.
- Turn headlights off for two minutes to allow battery positive voltage to stabilize.
- Disconnect the battery cables.
- Read open circuit voltage.
Q: Is open circuit voltage 12.4 volts or more?
YES: Charge the battery at 5 amps for 15 hours. Then re-test.
NO: Go to Step 5.
- STEP 5. Check the load test.
- Connect a load tester to the battery.
- Load the battery at the recommended discharge rate (See LOAD TEST RATE CHART ) for 15 seconds.
- Read voltage after 15 seconds, then remove load.
- Compare the measured value with the minimum voltage. (See LOAD TEST CHART .)
Q: Is the voltage higher than minimum voltage?
YES: The battery is normal.
NO: Replace the battery. Then go to STEP 4.
LOAD TEST CHARTTemperature °C (°F) 21 (70) AND ABOVE 16 (60) 10 (50) 4 (40) -1 (30) -7 (20) -12 (10) -18 (0) Minimum voltage 9.6 9.5 9.4 9.3 9.1 8.9 8.7 8.5 LOAD TEST RATE CHARTLoad test 290 amps Cranking ratio -18°C (0°F) 582 amps Reserve capacity 133 minutes Application 80D26L