This is the tester I bought. Delivered overnight. Yay Amazon!


Super easy to use. Very clear instructions. Just input the battery info then follow the onscreen instructions.
Basically did a test of battery health, cranking and charging. It then gives you an overall aggregate "grade".
See the attached pic for the outcome. Don't ask me to explain what every measurement means, or the specific value ranges, etc... because electrical systems aren't my area of expertise.
All I know is the test was accurate. The battery needed replacing. And the problem was solved.

 

AMEN..U have seen the light

 

Was battery out of the car (completely disconnected)?

Looks like voltage is low, and internal resistance high, with about 1/3 the CCA of t new.

I don't think this test is the same as a load test, but ...

 

U and P codes are standard, but I got to love all those other non-standard codes and you would think Durametric would tell you what they are. Unfortunately, they don't.

BTW, my GTS was manufactured in May of 2015 and it still has the same battery, more than 7 full years old. The open circuit voltage "unloaded" should see about 12.8V

 

It is not a "real" resistance load test. Those little handheld testers (conductance testers) are fast and easy, but not the most accurate. In many cases, close enough, but I still do not own one.

 

Here's the cheapest way ... https://www.harborfreight.com/electr...ter-61747.html

$13.99 in my city's location, today (30% off).

But, the question, then becomes - is the inductance tester "sufficient" in most cases for diagnosis? If both diagnose a "bad battery" statistically about the same - the digital device is far easier to use and understand.

 

Whatever happened to the 500A Carbon Pile load tester Harbor Freight used to have? I looked recently and it is not on their site anymore.

 

That’s like having a calculator and doing long division 😜

 

This seems like an overreaction, if I'm honest. Which dealership did you go to? I've had a relatively great experience with Beyer as my SA at Porsche Minneapolis, off 394.

 

To be fair… they’re either deceitful or inept and lazy. Not sure which is worse. But one thing’s for certain, it almost cost me a few thousand dollars. Since we’re both locals, I’d rather not disclose the details.

 

Just closing the loop here... it took some time, but the manager finally got back to me and agreed to refund the cost of the mis-diagnosis. No real explanation for it... but at least he did right by me.