Cleaning the battery terminals is easy; you just need a few household items and a half-hour. You shouldn’t have to clean your vehicle’s battery terminals often. If you do and your battery is over three years old, it’s probably time for a new one. Willoughby Hills Auto Repair can inspect your battery to determine how much life it has left in it. In the meantime, pop the hood to see if your battery terminals are corroded. If they are, do the following to remove the corrosion and protect the terminals.
Grab Your Supplies First
You’ll need a pair of rubber gloves, some goggles if you have them, an old long-sleeved shirt, a mixture of 1 teaspoon baking with 1 cup of lukewarm distilled water, an old toothbrush, a lint-free cloth, and petroleum jelly. You’ll also need a wrench to loosen and tighten the battery cables when you remove them from the terminals and then attach them after the terminals are clean.
Suit Up and Remove the Cables
Even though you do this with your vehicle turned off, the rubber gloves help protect you from electrical shock. The gloves, shirt, and goggles help protect you from battery acid, too, so suit up. Remove the negative battery cable first. This is the one with the black cap or ring on it. Remove the positive cable second (red cap or ring). Take the toothbrush and brush away any loose corrosion.
Clean the Terminals
Gently pour the baking soda and water over the battery terminals. Let the liquid sit on the terminals for about five minutes. Take the toothbrush and gently scrub away the remaining corrosion. If the corrosion is being stubborn, pour more cleaning solution on the terminals and let it sit longer. Once clean, rinse the terminals, dry them off with the lint-free cloth, and lightly coat them with petroleum jelly.
Reattach the Battery Cables
Finally, with the battery terminals protected by the petroleum jelly, reattach the positive cable first and then the negative one. Remember, to disconnect the cables, it’s negative and then positive. To reattach them, it’s positive and then negative. Visually inspect the battery for other damage, such as bulging, cracks, leaking, or even bubbles. All of these things indicate an unhealthy battery.
If you’d prefer we clean the battery terminals for you, or if you are ready to buy a new battery, call or stop by Willoughby Hills Auto Repair. Our shop is, of course, in Willoughby Hills, OH.