How do you check battery condition?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 964
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
How do you check battery condition?
The MB service sheet for a Service A states that you must test the battery condition using a Midtronics MCR 717 tester.
Couldn't I just test the voltage across the terminals using a digital voltmeter?
Does the Midtronics tester tell you anything other than voltage?
Couldn't I just test the voltage across the terminals using a digital voltmeter?
Does the Midtronics tester tell you anything other than voltage?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
A volt meter will only test the voltage and not the amps. Only a equipment designed to put the battery at load will do this. However people have been load testing betteries for years. When I had a problem last year Autozone tested my battery with a load tester at no charge and found it was at full capacity. If you really want to test the bettery Autozone has a tester and I am sure there are many others who also have the ability to test. This test was done with the ENGINE OFF. This is not an alternator test just battery. I have a tester I built 20 years ago to test alternators that actually checks each phase from the diodes and compares total output. Testers are available that will test alternators also. But just check the battery and you should be ok. If there is an alternator issue you will get a warning.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 964
Likes: 77
From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
A volt meter will only test the voltage and not the amps. Only a equipment designed to put the battery at load will do this. However people have been load testing betteries for years. When I had a problem last year Autozone tested my battery with a load tester at no charge and found it was at full capacity. If you really want to test the bettery Autozone has a tester and I am sure there are many others who also have the ability to test. This test was done with the ENGINE OFF. This is not an alternator test just battery. I have a tester I built 20 years ago to test alternators that actually checks each phase from the diodes and compares total output. Testers are available that will test alternators also. But just check the battery and you should be ok. If there is an alternator issue you will get a warning.
Thanks!
