A backup power system in a vehicle that provides temporary power to one or more electronic control units (ECUs) upon failure of a main power supply. The backup power system includes an energy reservoir that stores electric charge. A charging circuit is electrically connected to the energy reservoir to generate charge for the energy reservoir during normal operation of the vehicle. A discharging circuit for supplying backup power is electrically connected between the energy reservoir and the ECUs. A diagnostic circuit is electrically connected to the energy reservoir and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to monitor a slew rate of the energy reservoir as an amount of stored electric charge in the energy reservoir changes, determine if the slew rate is within a predetermined range, and when the slew rate is not within the predetermined range, generate a first error signal.