A short illustrative story withal: Once upon a time we were tooling up the highway amidst the mountains of British Columbia, on our way to Canada’s beautiful Banff National Park. Just after sunset we stopped the car to let the kids run around and throw rocks in the river. We almost didn’t get going again. The car started sluggishly, and as I drove (and it got darker outside) I noticed the headlights and dashboard lights, flickering ominously. It was another four hours or so to our destination, but I didn’t dare stop again. Even when one of the kids got carsick and threw up everywhere, we still couldn’t stop. It’s a good thing we didn’t.
The power cables had corroded through at the battery terminals, and the car wouldn’t move.
If I’d known what I know now, I would have taken a cab to the local auto parts store and bought new battery terminal connectors. $15 Canadian and a cab ride, and the part is fixed. As it was, we had to rent a car and stay an extra day. There are worse places to be stranded, but the stress and additional expense could have been avoided. So now I’ll teach you the little I know.
Corrosion builds up on your car battery terminals unless you remove it. Here are the terminals on my Jeep’s battery. You can buy little felt rings that keep corrosion down, but all you have to do to clear existing corrosion is use a little baking soda and water.
Pour a couple of teaspoons of baking soda right on the terminal.
Add a quart or two of warmish water. You’ll immediately see the baking soda fizz as it removes the corrosion, and you just keep pouring the water on until it’s gone. This removes the gunk and the baking soda.
Here’s one terminal partially cleaned; I’m putting water on the other one. The blue stuff is what’s left after the baking soda fizzes, and I afterwards rinsed it off.
It would probably be well to take the connectors off and clean them up good, but you know me– I won’t have time till I’m 80. Or stranded somewhere.
If you have other ideas on keeping battery terminals clean, I’d love to hear them. I’m always eager to learn.
Hey Doug, An old toothbrush also helps remove the old corrosion, but be careful not to get any of the baking soda/water solution under the battery covers and into the battery as it will neutralize the acid in there and reduce the power of the battery. It's also a good idea to remove the battery from the vehicle when cleaning it as you are now dripping battery acid onto the battery tray and all of the car parts under there.A little WD-40 sprayed on the terminals cleaning will keep them from getting corroded so fast.Good luck!
ever used a can of coke? works like a charm!
Good article. But I have very good results with plain water and a brush. The baking soda or coca cola etc is not needed at all. The thing needed is when you are finished cleaning the terminals is to dry it very good then apply a protectang grease. Not the stuff the sell as battery terminal protector. That is like a glue or paint, and it will seep between the terminal and the post and cause problems. It will actually insulate both.
Pedro Talavera.
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