Periodically testing your vehicle's battery takes just a few minutes, and it can boost your confidence on drives around Morrilton, AR. We suggest using a multimeter at Hagans Dodge. You'll find those online for under $20.
Start your battery test by setting your multimeter's dial to 20 DC volts. You should also check your battery's terminals for corrosion. If you find any, clean it with a terminal brush. Next, flip on your headlights for two or three minutes. This will burn off your battery's surface charge, which can interfere with a proper reading.
After you turn off your headlights, connect your multimeter's positive probe to your battery's positive terminal. Do the same with the negative probe and terminal. Within moments, you will see a reading on your multimeter's display. Any reading over 12 volts should make you smile. Typically, a fully charged battery will register 12.6 volts. If your reading is below 12 volts, replace your battery soon.