3 ms·

The battery is there to start the (ICE) car. Its voltage under ~500 of amps of load is the relevant voltage. The voltage when the car is off is almost always ir

The battery is there to start the (ICE) car. Its voltage under ~500 of amps of load is the relevant voltage. The voltage when the car is off is almost always irrelevant (it provides no guarantee about the ability to crank) and the voltage when the car is running is doubly irrelevant (alternator). What you want to do is watch and record the voltage dip while cranking, and this alone will give you a sense of your battery health.

Aardwolf 3y ago
If it's this important, does the onboard computer of the car not check this and warn if needed? If not, why not and why did humanity end up in a state where clunky apps are needed for this when the car already has all the electronics it needs for this?
- Goronmon 3y ago
  If not, why not and why did humanity end up in a state where clunky apps are needed for this when the car already has all the electronics it needs for this? (Almost) No one is making their car purchasing decisions based on the existence of a car battery health feature.
  - Aardwolf 3y ago
    I mean, probably nobody looks at whether a stick to measure the oil level is integrated in the oil cap either, but it's still there fortunately (or do you need an app for that too these days?)
    - FractalParadigm 3y ago
      Unfortunately, a lot of vehicles these days, mostly high-end, do not come with oil dipsticks anymore[0]. I know that Audi starting switching to sensors-only around 2012, and I believe BMW started even earlier than that. [0]: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/oil-dipsticks-disappearing-at-alarming-rate/ https://www.motorbiscuit.com/oil-dipsticks-disappearing-at-a...
- jjoonathan 3y ago
  People are accustomed to the coping mechanisms: aggressive battery replacement (on a schedule / at the first sign of struggle) or letting the battery deteriorate until the car fails to start and then asking for a jump / calling a tow truck. People see these inconveniences as inevitable, not as the result of a missing feature that really ought to be standard. Manufacturers don't feel pressured to do better so they don't do better.

Aardwolf 3y ago

If it's this important, does the onboard computer of the car not check this and warn if needed? If not, why not and why did humanity end up in a state where clunky apps are needed for this when the car already has all the electronics it needs for this?

Goronmon 3y ago
If not, why not and why did humanity end up in a state where clunky apps are needed for this when the car already has all the electronics it needs for this? (Almost) No one is making their car purchasing decisions based on the existence of a car battery health feature.
- Aardwolf 3y ago
  I mean, probably nobody looks at whether a stick to measure the oil level is integrated in the oil cap either, but it's still there fortunately (or do you need an app for that too these days?)
  - FractalParadigm 3y ago
    Unfortunately, a lot of vehicles these days, mostly high-end, do not come with oil dipsticks anymore[0]. I know that Audi starting switching to sensors-only around 2012, and I believe BMW started even earlier than that. [0]: https://www.motorbiscuit.com/oil-dipsticks-disappearing-at-alarming-rate/ https://www.motorbiscuit.com/oil-dipsticks-disappearing-at-a...
jjoonathan 3y ago
People are accustomed to the coping mechanisms: aggressive battery replacement (on a schedule / at the first sign of struggle) or letting the battery deteriorate until the car fails to start and then asking for a jump / calling a tow truck. People see these inconveniences as inevitable, not as the result of a missing feature that really ought to be standard. Manufacturers don't feel pressured to do better so they don't do better.