I in my car today only to find a dead battery. I was at home so I threw a charger on the battery, but I had to pull it off after it got up to about 12 volts because I was so late. As I got there I rolled up the electric windows and the volt meter went all the way down and the car killed. I have a manual so some friends helped me push start my car half way home the car killed again, so I had the car push started again. I made it home this time but the engine was running really bad, hitting and missing. When I got home I looked under the hood and the overflow antifreeze was full and boiling. Is the battery shot? Or maybe the alternator? Would one of these things caused it to overheat? I have a 91 Camaro RS with a V8 TBI.

 

How can I test the battery to see if it is dead?

 

Sounds like your alternator isn't charging.
Even with a bad battery, voltage should be above 12 volts with eng running (and alternator charging).

If you have an elec radiator fan, it probably wasn't working very well, if at all. That would explain the hot eng.

Typically, when trying to charge a bad batt, the voltage will shoot up pretty quickly (to like 14+ volts) when on a charger since the batt can't absorb the energy. When the charger is removed and a load is applied, the voltage will drop quick.

A voltmeter will give you a rough idea of battery charge. With battery off the charger for abt an hour, voltage should be 12.8 volts or maybe a little higher if fully charged.
If it's below 12 volts after charge, it's a goner.

If your battery has caps, you can use a hydrometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolite. That's the best way to check the amount of charge in a battery.

 

Sears and PeP Boys will test your battery for free if you bring it in to them.

Never heard of a battery causing a car to overheat. Once you start the car the battery's job is done altho the alternator recharges the battery as long as the car is running and you have no dead cells that can't recharge. Maybe you got 2 problems. It has always been my experience that if I start the car and take off the negative post with the car running(don't touch the leaad cable to any metal) if the car keeps running it is the battery. If the car shuts down it is the alternator. Also in my limited experience if the overflow bottle is boiling and over flowing, either I need a new thermostat(160 degrees - I love it), radiator problems or it is change the coolant time.

Just my shadetree mechanic expertise. someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

Exactly right. It wouldnt be a bad Idea to flush your radiator and make sure you have a good mixture. This time of the year I would go with at least 60/40 water/antifreeze. Also make sure your air dam is in place properly and your fan kicks in at the appropriate time.