Car Ignition Issues Due to Dead or Weak Battery

To confirm a battery-related starting failure, connect a digital multimeter to the battery posts. A healthy, fully charged battery should read approximately 12.6 volts. If the voltage drops significantly below 12.0 volts when attempting to crank the engine, or if the reading is below 12.0 volts at rest, the battery lacks the necessary amperage to engage the starter motor.