> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Record battery care and vehicle readings

> Save battery tender notes, tire pressure, fuel, and odometer numbers on a car so the next teammate does not have to walk the lot.

Use this guide when a stored car needs **battery care notes** or the latest **tire, fuel, and mileage** numbers on its record.

These fields live on the car page so anyone can answer “Is the tender connected?” or “What was the last mileage?” without opening a paper clipboard.

## What you will accomplish

You will fill in **Battery Information** and **Vehicle Readings** on one car so your team can protect the battery and track condition over time.

**Expected outcome:** The car record shows battery type and location, whether the customer left a charger, plus current tire pressure, fuel level, and odometer.

## When to use this guide

* A car arrives for long-term storage and you need to know where the battery is and how to keep it charged.
* A customer asks you to connect their own trickle charger whenever the car is parked.
* You just finished an engine start or lot walk and want the latest mileage, fuel, or tire numbers on the record.
* Insurance or pickup staff need a recent odometer number without walking to the bay.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Readings on the car vs. readings in a visit**
>
> Numbers you type here stay on the car as the latest snapshot. Photos and checklists from a scheduled visit still belong in a session. Use [Start a car session](/docs/cars/start-a-car-session.md) when you are doing a full intake or service walkthrough.

## Before you start

* Open the correct car from [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars).
* Have the battery location, charger notes, and current readings from the car in front of you.
* If you do not see **Battery Information** or **Vehicle Readings**, ask a manager to turn those blocks on in the car detail page layout under [Settings → Website & customer app](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/website).

## Record battery care notes

Battery fields tell the next teammate how to keep a stored car ready to start.

**1. Open the car record**

Go to [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) and click **View** on the vehicle.

**Expected result:** You see the year, make, and model at the top of the page.

**2. Scroll to Battery Information**

In **Vehicle Details** on the left, scroll until you see the heading **BATTERY INFORMATION**.

**Expected result:** You see **Battery Type**, **Battery Location**, **Customer Trickle Charger**, and **Battery Notes**.

**3. Choose Battery Type**

Click **Battery Type** and pick one of:

* **Lead Acid**
* **AGM**
* **Lithium**

Click away to save.

**Why this matters:** Lithium and lead-acid batteries need different chargers. The wrong charger can damage a stored car.

**4. Describe Battery Location**

Click **Battery Location** and type where staff should look—for example **Under the rear seat, passenger side** or **Trunk, right side**.

**Expected result:** The next person can find the battery without searching the whole car.

**5. Set Customer Trickle Charger**

Click **Customer Trickle Charger** and choose:

* **Customer provided** — the owner left their own charger for you to use
* **Not provided** — your facility uses its own tender
* **Not set** — you do not know yet

**Why this matters:** Staff should not unplug a customer-owned charger and replace it with a different unit.

**6. Add Battery Notes**

In **Battery Notes**, write the care rule in plain language. Example: **Keep the CTEK tender connected whenever this car is parked. Customer supplies a CTEK 5.0.**

**Expected outcome:** Anyone who opens the record knows what to do after a service visit or a move.

![Battery Information section on a car record showing Lithium battery type, rear-seat location, customer-provided trickle charger, and tender notes](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/YaZhPyY4b9Fq3hyS/images/cars/cars-battery-section-huracan-sep17.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=YaZhPyY4b9Fq3hyS\&q=85\&s=5816cb288637ab921d2f29131965b0b3)

***Battery Information** stores type, location, charger ownership, and care notes. Click a field to edit. The value saves when you leave the field.*

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Do not guess the battery type**
>
> If you cannot see the battery label, leave **Battery Type** empty and add a note. A wrong type is worse than a blank field because someone may connect the wrong charger.

## Record tire, fuel, and odometer readings

**Vehicle Readings** has three cards: **Tire Pressure**, **Fuel Level**, and **Odometer**.

**1. Scroll to Vehicle Readings**

Stay on the same car page and scroll to **VEHICLE READINGS**.

**Expected result:** You see three cards side by side on a wide screen (they stack on a phone).

**2. Set the target tire pressures**

On the **Tire Pressure** card, click **Ideal Front PSI** and **Ideal Rear PSI**. Type the pressures from the door sticker or owner’s manual (for example **36** front and **38** rear).

Optional: enter **Tire Date Code (DOT)** as the four-digit week-and-year code on the tire sidewall (for example **2319**).

**Why this matters:** Later readings turn green when they are close to these targets, and yellow or red when they are not.

**3. Read the latest tire numbers**

When a visit or lot walk has already saved pressures, the card shows **DF**, **PF**, **DR**, and **PR** (driver front, passenger front, driver rear, passenger rear) in PSI.

If you see **No tire pressure data yet**, log pressures during the next session or after a service-plan tire check. See [Assign service plans on a vehicle](/docs/cars/assign-service-plans-on-a-vehicle.md).

**4. Update Fuel Level**

On the **Fuel Level** card, click **Fuel Level** and type a number from **0** to **100**. The card shows it as a percent (for example **62%**).

**Expected result:** The gauge updates and the date on the card shows today.

**5. Update Odometer**

On the **Odometer** card, click **Odometer** and type the current miles or kilometers. Use **Units** to choose **Miles (mi)** or **Kilometers (km)**.

**Expected outcome:** The large number at the top of the card matches what is on the dash. After more readings, a small trend line appears.

![Vehicle Readings section showing tire pressure at 36 and 38 PSI, fuel at 62 percent, and odometer at 8,420 miles](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/ggah6moKlxnkQYNH/images/cars/cars-vehicle-readings-huracan-sep17.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=ggah6moKlxnkQYNH\&q=85\&s=7055942de6ec748a5a093994f5fab6b7)

***Vehicle Readings** keeps the latest tire, fuel, and odometer snapshot on the car. Enter target PSI so later checks are easy to compare.*

## What success looks like

* A teammate can find the battery and know which charger to use without calling the owner.
* Fuel, mileage, and tire targets are on the record before the next pickup or engine start.
* Service-plan checks such as **Tire pressure** or **Engine start** match the numbers you just saved.

## Common mistakes to avoid

> [!WARNING]
>
> **Do not mix up miles and kilometers**
>
> Set **Units** before you type the odometer. A number without the right unit can look like the car has driven far more (or far less) than it has.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Battery notes are for your team**
>
> Write the note the way you would tell a new porter: where to look, which charger to use, and whether to leave it plugged in. Avoid shorthand only one person understands.

## Troubleshooting

> [!WARNING]
>
> **I do not see Battery Information or Vehicle Readings**
>
> Those blocks can be hidden in the car detail page layout. Ask a manager to enable **Battery information** and **Vehicle readings** under [Settings → Website & customer app](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/website).

> [!TIP]
>
> **Tire pressure still says no data**
>
> Ideal PSI can be typed on the car. The four corner readings usually arrive from a session or a service-plan check. Run [Start a car session](/docs/cars/start-a-car-session.md) or log the check from **Service Plans**.

> [!WARNING]
>
> **The number snapped back**
>
> Click the field, type again, then click outside the field and wait a moment. If it still reverts, refresh the page. Another teammate may have edited the same car.

## What to do next

* Attach recurring care (engine starts, tire checks) with [Assign service plans on a vehicle](/docs/cars/assign-service-plans-on-a-vehicle.md).
* Capture photos and readings during a visit with [Start a car session](/docs/cars/start-a-car-session.md).
* Review other fields on the same page with [View and edit vehicle details](/docs/cars/view-and-edit-vehicle-details.md).


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