This procedure tests the battery's voltage, cold cranking amps (CCA), and overall health using a digital battery tester to determine if the battery requires charging or replacement.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Battery terminal cleaning spray (optional) × 1 — Use any commercial battery cleaner

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Turn off engine and all electrical accessories (lights, radio, climate control)
3. Allow engine to sit for at least 1 hour if recently driven to get accurate resting voltage
4. Open hood and locate battery on passenger side of engine bay, near firewall

Procedure

1. 1

   Perform visual battery inspection
   Inspect battery case for cracks, bulging, or damage. Check terminals for heavy corrosion, loose connections, or damage. Inspect battery hold-down bracket for security. Look for signs of electrolyte leakage around posts or case. If battery case is damaged or severely corroded, replacement is required regardless of test results.
2. 2

   Check battery manufacture date
   Locate the date code sticker on battery case. Ford OEM batteries use a letter-number code where the letter indicates month (A=January, B=February, etc.) and number indicates year. Batteries older than 4-5 years are near end of service life and may fail testing even if currently functional.
3. 3

   Clean battery terminals if necessary
   If terminals show corrosion, loosen battery terminal bolts with 10mm wrench but do not remove cables yet. Clean visible corrosion from terminal posts and cable clamps using wire brush. Heavy corrosion will prevent accurate testing. Retighten terminal bolts after cleaning.
   Torque spec

   Battery Terminal Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Perform resting voltage test
   Set digital multimeter to DC voltage (20V range). Connect red lead to positive terminal and black lead to negative terminal. Record voltage reading. A fully charged 12V battery should read 12.6V or higher. 12.4V indicates 75% charge, 12.2V indicates 50% charge, 12.0V or below indicates discharged battery. Battery must be at least 12.4V for accurate load testing.
5. 5

   Charge battery if voltage is low
   If resting voltage is below 12.4V, battery must be charged before load testing. A discharged battery will fail load test even if healthy. Charge battery using appropriate charger until voltage reaches 12.6V or higher, then allow to rest 30 minutes before continuing with testing.
   ℹ️Low resting voltage may indicate a charging system problem. After testing battery, verify alternator output is 13.8-14.4V at idle.
6. 6

   Connect battery tester
   Connect digital battery tester leads to battery terminals, red to positive and black to negative. Ensure solid connection for accurate test. Enter battery specifications into tester: CCA rating is stamped on battery label (typical rating for this vehicle is 650-750 CCA). Select 'in-vehicle test' mode on tester.
7. 7

   Perform load test
   Follow tester prompts to perform load test. Tester will apply load equal to half the CCA rating for 15 seconds while monitoring voltage. Battery should maintain at least 9.6V under load at 70°F (higher minimum voltage required at lower temperatures). Most digital testers will display 'GOOD', 'WEAK', or 'REPLACE' result. Record CCA test result and compare to battery's rated CCA.
8. 8

   Interpret test results
   Review all test data. Battery passes if: resting voltage is 12.6V or higher, load test voltage stays above 9.6V, and CCA test shows at least 80% of rated CCA. Battery requires replacement if: load test voltage drops below 9.6V, CCA is below 80% of rating, or tester displays 'REPLACE'. A 'WEAK' result indicates battery is declining and should be monitored or replaced preventively.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly required for this procedure
2. If terminals were loosened during cleaning, verify they are properly tightened to 8.0 Nm (6 lb-ft)
3. Apply thin coat of dielectric grease to terminals after testing to prevent future corrosion

Verification

• Verify all test results were recorded: resting voltage, load test voltage, and CCA measurement
• Confirm battery terminals are tight and show no movement when wiggled by hand
• Start engine to verify battery has sufficient power for cranking
• If battery failed testing, verify charging system is functioning properly before installing new battery to prevent premature failure

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