Load testing a battery when cold vs hot:

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Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Of course it matters cold/hot.
That is why cold cranking amps and hot cranking amps are given on all batteries.


I mean for testing the starters draw, does it matter if done hot or cold? One Mech says it does not, otehr says it does.
 
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got the video, just did load test with car cold and load tester. Will upload in an hour when I get back.
 
Ah have to re-do the test tonight or in the morning, sorry. Dumb me, I did the tes but forgot to turn on the load switch.

The mech says you can test the starter with this, is that true?

But like today, started the car in -10 weather, again started right away and smooth. Thats twice straight now where it started fast when cold. Wierd. I really wonder if I had water condensation in my gas tank as it was after adding the gas line antifreeze that the car now has started normally when cold.
 
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Again Condensation will not cause slow cranking. Maybe cause longer crank times to start and fire the engine, But not slower cranking.
 
hem want to see the video i took today? I did reading with car off, and then started it but forgot to hit the load switch. Will do re-doing it tonight and hitting the load switch.

In another video i also hit the gas 1500rpms and reading didnt drop.

But mind you last night and this morning, it did not slow crank, started right away, so i dont know if that makes the tests useless.

I did have the car plugged in both times but still, shouldnt make a huge difference. Remember before when I had slow cranking, plugging it in didnt make any difference.
 
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Well i see nothing wrong in that video . volts looks to be fine off and with the car running. Now run the load test. Also was this a cold start at minus 10 ? if so i would say it started just fine.
 
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Originally Posted By: hemitom
Well i see nothing wrong in that video . volts looks to be fine off and with the car running. Now run the load test. Also was this a cold start at minus 10 ? if so i would say it started just fine.


Yes cold start, car sat overnight, -10 but car plugged in. It started fine this morning and late last night, both cold starts so wondering if its been fixed without me knowing. Will have to monitor it to see if it eventually comes back.

I could be wrong but if the car starts fine, and the battery is bad, how would the bad battery show up on the gauge if the car starts fine?

I would almost need the slow cranking to return to determine if the battery is bad.
 
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Another thing is, in the video you see it has the yellow marks as Starter test. So im guessing i can check the starters draw with this device?

When you watch the car start you see the needle go to the yellow zone for a second, im guessing these are the starter draw amps?

How the [censored] am i suppose to track it when the needle goes in and out of the yellow zone so fast?
 
The way it's turning over in the video i tend to think the battery is fine. In one of your prior posts I saw the cca at 476 I believe ? Thats more than enough to start your honda. I used to drive a 440 cubic inch new yorker in the winter At that time 500cca was the biggest battery you could find. It would start at minus 25 to 30,with the block heater on of course. But believe me it did not crank over anywhere near as fast as it would at temps near 0
 
Originally Posted By: hemitom
The way it's turning over in the video i tend to think the battery is fine. In one of your prior posts I saw the cca at 476 I believe ? Thats more than enough to start your honda. I used to drive a 440 cubic inch new yorker in the winter At that time 500cca was the biggest battery you could find. It would start at minus 25 to 30,with the block heater on of course. But believe me it did not crank over anywhere near as fast as it would at temps near 0


But dont forget thats cause it didnt slow crank today or last night so it wont show anything on the meter if the battery was bad. If the symptom isnt happening, how can you properly diagnosis a battery?

And how about the starter, as far as testing it with this device? It has the yellow marks on it, so it must test the starter

Yes my battery showed as 476 when off but its actually rated 500cca! So it means its draining a bit from somewhere after the car is off.
 
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It really looks like everything was fine when you made that video. Try doing the same thing first thing in the morning.

If you find there are days when it is just fine and you can't think of any reason why it won't act up, check that the nut holding the big wire on the starter is properly snugged up.
 
Originally Posted By: yonyon
It really looks like everything was fine when you made that video. Try doing the same thing first thing in the morning.

If you find there are days when it is just fine and you can't think of any reason why it won't act up, check that the nut holding the big wire on the starter is properly snugged up.


Im gonna do it again late tonight and load from the load tester this time. Then ill know forsure.

But if the car starts fine, I dont think a bad battery would show up. Cause good start means good power from battery, that one time, but does not mean the battery is nessecarily good.

CHances are the battery is good, so ill move onto the starter. How are you suppose to test the starter amps with this load tester? As you see in the video you can see in yellow saying starter test.

Ill check on the starter but im pretty sure mine, you have to remove the airbox just to even get to it.
 
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Just because your battery is rated at 500cca means it will stay at 500cca. When your battery ages it will lose some power as well as when its cold . Because its below the rated cca does not mean the battery is faulty.

I really think you are just witnessing the effects of cold weather on starting.

You could also buy yourself a trickle charger and plug it in with your block heater to keep your battery fresh for cold starts.
 
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Originally Posted By: hemitom
Just because your battery is rated at 500cca means it will stay at 500cca. When your battery ages it will lose some power as well as when its cold . Because its below the rated cca does not mean the battery is faulty.

I really think you are just witnessing the effects of cold weather on starting.

You could also buy yourself a trickle charger and plug it in with your block heater to keep your battery fresh for cold starts.


I was suggested a trickle charger, but is it just a block that sits on my floor, plugs into AC and to the cars block heater?

Does the trickle charger just keep the battery from draining?If its gonna help ease cold startups ill get one (taking not expensive).

I have a feeling it might just be the effects of cold startups too and maybe my new Syn blend oil, coming from Full Synthetic before I never had issues last winter or the one before.
 
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Just reading, looks like you hook up a trickle charger to the battery just with clamps like on the battery tester. That means the hood would have to be open. That sucks. That wouldnt work for me.

I alwyas thought that block heaters is good and saves wear on the engine when cold, but it does not. It does not even warm up the oil, but the coolant instead.
 
A) It does matter the temperature the measurement is taken at
B) CCA's are for when the engine is off. You need the full 500 to start the car.
 
Originally Posted By: hemitom
Just because your battery is rated at 500cca means it will stay at 500cca. When your battery ages it will lose some power as well as when its cold . Because its below the rated cca does not mean the battery is faulty.

I really think you are just witnessing the effects of cold weather on starting.

You could also buy yourself a trickle charger and plug it in with your block heater to keep your battery fresh for cold starts.


My point is they (CCA's) may be insufficient for his vehicle. It was inferred that the battery is less than one year old.
 
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