Cleaning The Battery Terminals
Battery grime can cause current leak and shorten the life of your battery. Keeping your battery connections clean can not only help your battery live longer but can also save you money. Read below to learn how to clean a variety of battery terminals.
Locate The Battery
Most car batteries are located underneath the hood and are on the left or right side of the engine bay. With some european models the battery is located in the trunk.
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. Don’t forget to put on a pair of work gloves and don your safety glasses.
Disconnect the Car Battery
Both cables must be removed from the battery. Remove each clamp by disconnecting the negative (Black) terminal first then the positive. If excess corrosion is present, you may need to use metal pliers to disconnect.
Choose Your Cleaning Agent
You can use 2 kinds of cleaning agents to clean the terminals properly. 1. Take 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix equal amount of water to paste like consistency. 2. Simply take a 12 ounce of cola can and use that as a cleaning agent.
Clean and Rinse
Apply one of the cleaning agents to the terminals and use a wire brush to clean until you see no corrosion left on the terminals. Rinse with water, then use a rag and dry each terminal. Lastly, slather a dab of petroleum oil on each post to prevent future corrosion.
Reconnect the Clamps
Connect the positive clamp first, followed by the negative clamp. Use a wrench to tighten as needed. Lastly, put the rubber or plastic covers over each junction. Your work is done.
