To clean battery terminals: you are supposed to prep materials, then, locate the battery, lift the terminal covers, mix up your homemade battery cleaner, undo the cables from the battery and inspect it, dip a toothbrush in your cleaner and start scrubbing, rinse off the residue with water and dry, and rub petroleum jelly onto the terminals and reattach the cables.
Knowing how to clean battery terminals and connection points will free them of residue and keep your car running. Here are some simple instructions for cleaning the battery terminals on a car.
Clean battery terminals can keep your car from stalling at the most inopportune time. Even though the car battery is typically kept out of the elements, it can still produce corrosive hydrogen sulfide gas, which can eat away at the connections. Over time battery terminal corrosion weakens the electrical connection between the battery posts and the battery cables.
Table of Contents
Required Materials
- Protective gloves, like dish gloves
- Baking soda
- Water
- Old toothbrush
- Rag
- Petroleum jelly
How to Clean Battery Terminals in Your Car?
Locate the Battery
Most car batteries are located underneath the hood and are on the left or right side of the engine bay. The battery is housed in the trunk of some models, including the Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and the BMW 5 Series. The battery is hidden beneath one of the front seats in some vehicles, including the Grand Cherokee, Audi A7, Ford Transit, and Mercedes ML. Batteries have been found underneath the back seat of Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Mercedes as well. Even in the front bumper area of Dodge vehicles, the battery is located behind the inner fender liner of the front wheel. Older Corvette owners might need to remove a fender panel in order to locate the battery. Consult your owner’s manual if you’re having trouble finding your battery. Depending on where it is located, you might need to remove a cover or shield after you’ve found the battery. You must have full access to the area on top of or to the side of the battery where the battery cables attach to it.
Lift the Terminal Covers
Plastic or rubber covers protect most batteries and must be removed to access the clamps that connect the cables to the terminals. The terminal covers may be fragile as a result of aging and heat, so handle them with care. A paper towel or clean shop rag may occasionally be required to remove a buildup of residue, which is identified as a white powder. A pair of work gloves and a pair of safety glasses should be worn at all times. Although there is little chance that something bad will happen with this project, it is always wise to be safe.
Mix Up Your Homemade Battery Cleaner
The ingredients are straightforward: combine one cup of water and one tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl and stir to combine.
Undo the Cables from the Battery and Inspect It
Don’t forget to turn off your car. The negative battery cable should be first removed by opening the hood. Then the positive cable attached to your battery. Some batteries might be in the trunk or tucked away under a seat. (Turn to your owner’s manual for more information.) Next, check your battery. Your engine and battery performance can be significantly impacted by buildup, battery corrosion, and grime on the terminals. If you notice that the battery case is leaking, swollen, or bloated, skip the cleaning and head straight to your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care for a new battery. Yours is about to end!
Dip a Toothbrush in Your Cleaner and Start Scrubbing
Take a discarded toothbrush, dunk it in your baking soda cleaner, and begin cleaning the terminals. You’ll need to continuously clean the toothbrush as you work, which will require a little bit of elbow grease. Once all of the buildup has been removed, thoroughly clean the terminals. Never return the toothbrush to the bathroom!
Rinse Off the Residue With Water and Dry
Give the battery a quick rinse following the removal of all corrosion and debris from the terminals. Fill up a spray bottle with a bit of water and spray down the terminals. You can also use a damp rag to clean everything if you don’t have a spray bottle. Once the terminals are completely dry, use another rag.
Rub Petroleum Jelly onto the Terminals and Reattach the Cables
Apply some petroleum jelly to the terminals after they have dried. This will lubricate them, help prevent further corrosion, and help strengthen the connection. You’re done once you reconnect the positive and negative cables. Be cautious because a poor connection can result from using too much petroleum jelly.
What is Battery Corrosion?
You’re probably here because it’s very simple to spot corrosion on a car battery. Typically, the corrosion is white in appearance, one only could describe as “crusty.” When exposed to moisture, it may take on a blue or emerald hue. The corrosion takes over the battery’s terminal and reduces the connection due to corrosion remaining a terrible conductor of electricity. After that, the energy is abruptly directed back toward the battery by a momentary current flow.
Numerous factors, including hydrogen gas released from the sulfuric acid inside the battery, can contribute to corrosion. Battery fluid leakage occurs as a result of the corrosive environment created by the gasses as they react with the atmosphere in the battery. Corrosion will proceed more quickly when factors like moisture or salt are included in the equation.
Some reasons for battery corrosion include:
- Overcharged – If the battery is overcharged, the fluid may expand and leak out of overflow holes. Corrosion starts when this acid comes into contact with the terminal. If this happens, just regularly remove the corrosion to maintain dependability.
- There are tiny vents in every battery through which hydrogen gas can escape. Corrosion may happen if these gases come into contact with the battery terminals or the cables in your car. This is dependent on where the vents are placed and how much gas escapes through them.
- Age: If your battery is more than five years old, you should expect that it is probably close to failing. Corrosion that occurs as a result of battery aging is merely a side effect, and little can be done about it. Even if you clean it and it starts working, you should probably get a new battery installed as soon as possible.
Request Your Battery Service Today
You should be able to start your car and get back to your regular schedule after completing this procedure. Your battery may be dead if the device is still not functioning. Battery maintenance is essential because there might even be a problem with the cables or starter of your car.
Read about
