Are you having problems starting your car or are you experiencing other performance issues? Have you observed a flaky white or blueish substance on the surface of your car battery? Your issue is rust in the battery. However, there is no need to be concerned, as this article will teach you how to clean car battery corrosion. You can simply remove corrosion from a car battery. Simply disconnect the wires carefully, use your cleaning solution, scrape the corrosion away, rinse, dry the battery, and apply a corrosion preventative material before reconnecting the lines.
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Instructions on how to remove corrosion from battery
Is it proving difficult for your vehicle to start? Are your headlights dimmer than usual? Almost certainly, you’re dealing with a battery issue. When you open the hood to inspect it, look for a flaky white or blue substance on the battery of your car. Corrosion will build on the battery terminals over time as a result of the battery’s chemical composition. While a little amount is unlikely to cause any harm, a large amount can disrupt the electric current and cause drivers’ headaches.
Of course, attempting to remove corrosion without knowing how to do so safely is perilous. If you are unsure about removing the corrosion yourself, seek assistance from a local mechanic. Otherwise, refer to our step-by-step guide below for safely cleaning corrosion from a car battery terminal.
Take the following simple steps:
- To begin, ensure that your vehicle is turned off for your safety. Because you’ll be handling the battery, it’s a good idea to switch it off first.
- Locate the battery and disconnect its terminals. You will require a wrench to assist you in removing them. Eliminate the negative terminal first, followed by the positive terminal.
- Inspect your battery for signs of damage. While you’re in there, you might as well inspect your batteries for bulging, cracking, or warping. These are indicators that your battery may need to be replaced.
A white substance will be seen on the terminals and inside the cable clamps.This is the content that must be eliminated. Obtain the following supplies: a toothbrush, water, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), steel wool, a cloth or towel for drying, and petroleum jelly (optional).
In a lid or small dish, combine a very little quantity of water and some of the baking soda. Then, apply the paste to the terminals and clamps with the toothbrush. Scrub vigorously until all traces of the white stuff are removed. If necessary, steel wool can be used to assist in the corrosion removal process. Pay close attention to the insides of the clamps to achieve the finest possible battery connection.
Using a towel or cloth, thoroughly dry everything.
- Lubricate the terminals and clamps with petroleum jelly. This will assist in preventing further rusting.
- Reconnect the battery, starting with the positive terminal and working your way down to the negative terminal.
Instructions in Simple Steps
Cleaning automobile battery corrosion can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including using a battery cleaning chemical or baking soda and hot water. Whichever method you pick, there are certain precautions you must follow both before and after cleaning. Either of the procedures is simple to execute.
Step 1: Ascertain That Your Vehicle Has Been Switched Off
Before cleaning the automobile battery, the vehicle must be turned off. This step is necessary for safety, as you will be touching the battery. Additionally, it guards against inadvertent grounding of cables.
Step 2: Disconnect the Cables, starting with the Negative One.
Ensure that your engine is turned off. To begin, open the hood and disconnect the negative battery cable. Then connect the positive cable to the battery terminals on the battery. Certain batteries may be found in the trunk or beneath a seat. Then, perform a battery assessment. Buildup, battery corrosion, and filth on the terminals can all have a significant impact on the performance of your engine and battery.
In case if battery case is leaking, bulging, or even bloated. Quickly avoid cleaning and go to your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care and replace your battery. Yours is on the verge of disappearing!
Step 3: Inspect the Automobile Battery for Damage
If you notice any warping, bulging, dents, or cracks around the acid leakage area, this indicates that the battery is damaged. This means you’ll have to get a new one if this is the case.
Step 4: Inspect the Cables and Clamps of the Car Battery for Any Damage
If you see that the insulation on any of the cables has been shredded, frayed, splintered, peeled, dried, cracked, or corroded, this indicates that they have been damaged. Car battery wires that have been damaged are frequently the reason of an engine that will not start. If you discover any of these indicators of damage on any of your vehicle’s battery wires, they must be replaced.
Step 5: Rinse the Vehicle’s Battery and Connecting Cables
After thoroughly cleaning the terminals of corrosion and debris, give the battery a brief washing. Fill a spray bottle halfway with water and spray the terminals down. If you do not have a spray bottle, you can also use a damp rag to clean everything down. Then, using another rag, thoroughly dry the terminals.
Step 6: Ensure that the battery is completely dry.
Contact of water with electrical components can be dangerous. Therefore, before reconnecting the connections, ensure that the battery, battery terminals, and battery clamps are completely dry. Using a towel or cloth, dry them all. Alternatively, if possible, you might expedite the drying process by using an air compressor.
Step 7: Apply Petroleum Jelly to the cables and reconnect them in reverse order, beginning with the positive cable.
Once the terminals are completely dry, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to them. This will lubricate them, aid in the prevention of future corrosion, and reinforce the connection. Simply reconnect the positive and negative connections, and you’re ready to go.