It’s not hard to tell when it’s time to clean the exterior and interior of your car, but what about the under-hood parts?
As it turns out, most automobile Batteries corrode at least somewhat over time. The could not only result in various electrical problems for the vehicle, however Eventually, the battery life will be reduced – which means you will have to pay for a replacement. To avoid this, here’s how to remove build-up corrosion from your car’s battery posts.
What is car battery corrosion?
When checking for corrosion on your car battery, look for white, blue, or greenish granular powder that has formed around the terminals, posts, and/or cables.
while there is some specific problems which can accelerate the corrosion process is a normal wearing part of your vehicle. Here’s what happens per Continental batteries:
As your battery runs, the sulfuric acid releases hydrogen gas. The gas then mixes with the surrounding air. The chemical reaction that takes place when hydrogen gas collides with air causes moisture and salt Corrosion.
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Why is it important to clean your car battery terminals?
Your vehicle needs a working battery to run, and batteries can be expensive, so it’s in your best interest extend the life of your battery. Corrosion around the terminals or elsewhere on the battery causes his materials to deteriorate, which shortens its lifespan. It can also disrupt the electrical current in the car and end up damaging the electrics and starting system.
How to remove corrosion on your car’s battery terminals
There are dedicated battery cleaning solutions available at your local auto parts store, but this do-it-yourself method will do the trick too:
- Put on gloves and goggles before it begins.
- remove that connection cablestarting with the negative (black) wirefollowed by the positive (red) wire.
- Check the cables for damage such as fraying or insulation dried, peeling or cracked. If the cables are damaged, they will needs to be replaced.
- Optional: Remove the battery from the vehicle and place it in a pan or shallow container. This not only makes cleaning easier, but also prevents corrosive material from getting onto other parts under the hood. (Some people prefer to clean the battery while it’s still in the car.)
- If necessary, use a stiff toothbrush, wire brush or scraper to remove as much of the solid and powdery corrosion as possible, brushing into the container as you go.
- Get involved Paste made from baking soda and warm water to neutralize battery acid. Apply it to the battery — and the terminal ends that connect it to the cables — with a clean rag, wiping away any remaining corrosion as you go. If the rag doesn’t cut, use the toothbrush.
- When the corrosion is gone, dampen a new, clean cloth with warm water and wipe the battery and its contacts to rinse them off.
- Use a clean (ideally microfiber) cloth to dry the area and wipe away any remaining residue.
- Put the clean battery back in your vehicle (if you removed it).
- Spread a thin layer of Vaseline on the clean battery posts to prevent future corrosion.
- Reattach the wires, this time starting with the positive (red) wire, then the negative (black) wire. Replace the caps on each connector.
If the battery is free of corrosion, put a reminder in your calendar to check it again in six months and clean it if necessary. From there, keep looking for battery corrosion and clean it up every six months.
