Cranking Voltage/Battery Load Test - Actron AutoTroubleShooter Operating Instructions Manual

4. Disconnect positive (+) battery
cable.
5. Connect RED test lead to positive
(+) battery terminal.
6. Connect BLACK test lead to posi-
tive (+) battery cable.
NOTE: Do not start vehicle during this
test, because multimeter damage may
result.
7. Turn multimeter rotary switch to
10A DC (or 200 mA) position.
8. View reading on display.
• Typical current draw is 100mA.
(1mA = 0.001A)
• Refer to vehicle service manual for
manufacturers specific Engine Off
Battery Current Draw.
NOTE: Radio station presets and
clocks are accounted for in the 100mA
typical current draw.
9. Test Results.
Normal Current Draw: Display read-
ing in Step 8 is within manufacturers
specifications.
Excessive Current Draw:
- Display reading in Step 8 is well out-
side manufacturers specifications.
- Remove Fuses from fuse box one
at a time until source of excessive
current draw is located.
- N o n - F u s e d c i r c u i t s s u c h a s
headlights, relays, and solenoids
should also be checked as pos-
sible current drains on battery.
- When source of excessive current
drain is found, service as necessary.
Cranking Voltage -
Battery Load Test
This test checks the battery to see if it is
delivering enough voltage to the starter
motor under cranking conditions.
Test Procedure (see Fig. 21):
1. Disable ignition system so vehicle
won't start.
Disconnect the primary of the igni-
tion coil or the distributor pick-up coil
Fig. 21
600
600
or the cam/crank sensor to disable
the ignition system. Refer to vehicle
s e r v i c e m a n u a l f o r d i s a b l i n g
procedure.
2. Insert BLACK test lead into COM
test lead jack.
3. I n s e r t R E D t e s t l e a d i n t o
4. Connect RED test lead to positive
(+) terminal of battery.
5. Connect BLACK test lead to nega-
tive (-) terminal of battery.
6. Turn multimeter rotary switch to
20V DC range.
7. Crank engine for 15 seconds con-
tinuously while observing display.
8. Test Results.
Compare display reading in Step 7
with chart below.
Voltage
9.6V or greater 70 °F and Above
9.5V
9.4V
9.3V
9.1V
8.9V
8.7V
8.5V
If voltage on display corresponds to
above voltage vs. temperature chart,
then cranking system is normal.
If voltage on display does not corre-
spond to chart, then it is possible that
the battery, battery cables, starting sys-
tem cables, starter solenoid, or starter
motor are defective.
17
Red Black
test lead jack.
Temperature
60 °F
50 °F
40 °F
30 °F
20 °F
10 °F
0 °F