How-to
Getting the car battery tested before winter
Check the battery terminals yourself, get the battery tested before winter, and take an old one back to a retailer instead of the trash.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published June 3, 2026 · 2 min read
At a glance
- When
- Before winter
- Who
- A repair shop or an auto parts store
- Look for
- Corroded or loose terminals
- Old battery
- Back to the retailer or a hazardous waste site
A car battery puts out less power in the cold, so a weak battery often fails on the first freezing morning. A quick test in the fall shows whether it's ready for winter. Most auto parts stores and repair shops can test it while you wait.
What you need
- The car's owner's manual
- A flashlight
- A shop or auto parts store that tests batteries
Steps
- 1
Find the battery
The owner's manual shows where it is. With the engine off, open the hood and find the two cables on top of the battery.
2 min
- 2
Look at the terminals
Corroded or loose terminals can make a good battery seem dead. Look without touching, and note any crusty white or green buildup or a cable that sits loose.
2 min
- 3
Leave the battery alone
A lead-acid car battery holds up to 18 pounds of lead and about a gallon of corrosive sulfuric acid. Cleaning or removing it is a job for the shop.
1 min
- 4
Book the test before winter
Ask the shop or parts store for a battery test, and mention any buildup or loose cable you saw.
5 min
- 5
If it needs replacing
Many auto parts stores will put in a new battery for little or no charge.
1 min
- 6
Send the old one back
Return a lead-acid battery to a battery retailer or a household hazardous waste program. Never put one in the trash or a recycling bin.
1 min
- 7
Start it on a cold morning
On the first cold morning after the test, start the car. It should crank and start without hesitation.
1 min
Get the car battery checked
- Book a battery test before the first cold snap
- Look at the battery terminals for corrosion or a loose cable
- Write the battery's test date in the car's records
When the starter seems to be the problem
A car that won't start can look like a bad starter when the real cause is a dead battery or a poor connection. Before you approve a starter repair, ask the technician to check all the connections and test the battery. If the battery is the problem, ask them to clean the terminals and test it again before replacing it. For what to ask before you approve any repair, see How to read a car repair estimate before you say yes.
An annotated example
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- National Weather Service, Burlington, Vermont. Is your vehicle ready for Old Man Winter? (2025)
- Federal Trade Commission. Auto repair basics (2012)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Used household batteries (2026)
- Car
