Dave, Using the starter as a load is smart way of checking the battery. Here is some additional information from a local GM expert that writes the books on battery and charging systems and teaches around the country. I took his 1/2 day course and it was wonderful. The ( OCV ) Test. ( Open Circuit voltage). Evaluates the battery State of charge. #1.Charge the battery over night. #2.Next morning, with battery hooked up just put a DMM across the battery terminals and get a voltage check. #3.If it's above 12.66 volts, then turn on the lights for about a minuet to bleed off surface voltage and read again. Here is what the battery condition is by doing this test. 12.66=100% State of charge 12.58=90% 12.51=80% 12.45=70% 12.35=60% 12.28=50% 12.20=40% 12.12=30% If your battery isn't holding a 12.66 or a little higher voltage, then it's on it way out. That doesn't mean it's going out tomorrow but it's going down. This is also what causes an alternator to go out. It's trying to charge the battery that can't be charged, so it working all the time to do so. Overheats and burns up the regulator. John Hervey www.specialtauto.com http://www.veejer.com/ -----Original Message----- From: Dave Stragand [mailto:dave.stragand@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 3:58 PM To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [DML] Re: question about battery life The "poor man's" test of battery condition is fairly quick and simple: 1) Charge the battery 2) Disconnect the primary coil wire 3) Hook a voltmeter up across the battery 4) Crank the car for 10 seconds. If the battery drops below 10.125 volts, it's usually toast. -Dave [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/