How to Detect Whether a Car Battery is Leaking Electricity?
2 Answers
Methods to detect whether a car battery is leaking electricity: 1. Turn off all electrical devices in the car, remove the negative terminal of the battery, connect one end of the test light to the negative terminal and the other end to the battery cable. If the light turns on, it indicates a leakage point. 2. Measure the battery voltage with a multimeter. Causes of car battery damage: 1. The ignition system continues to operate after the engine is turned off. 2. The multimedia or air conditioning system is not turned off before shutting down the engine. 3. Prolonged use of electrical devices after turning off the engine. 4. Frequent or prolonged ignition attempts. Car battery maintenance methods: 1. Avoid parking the car in an open parking lot for extended periods under direct sunlight. 2. Avoid continuous vehicle starting. 3. Regularly inspect battery components and connecting wires. 4. Avoid using electrical devices in the car after turning off the engine.
I recently checked my car battery for parasitic drain myself, and it's quite a simple method. First, turn off the engine, lock the doors, and wait for 20 minutes to let the car enter sleep mode. Then, open the hood and disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Set the multimeter to the current measurement mode and connect it in series between the negative cable to read the quiescent current. The normal value is generally below 50 milliamps; if it exceeds 100 milliamps, it indicates a parasitic drain. At this point, you need to pull out the fuses one by one to troubleshoot—pull one out, put it back, and then take the reading. The circuit where the current suddenly drops is the source of the drain. Common issues include aftermarket audio systems or dash cams, or possibly aging door sensors. Remember to wear insulated gloves during the test—safety first.
