Perform the same procedure for the battery cable ends. The reaction between the baking soda and water mixture and the acidic corrosion on the battery terminals will neutralize the acid, making it safe to handle. The baking soda will react by bubbling up quite ferociously for a couple seconds. Step 2: Pour a couple tablespoons of water on each terminal. Use enough for the powder to coat the terminal with a little around the terminal as well. Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda over both battery terminals. A few simple household items can clean your battery and restore a proper connection. You don’t need specialized equipment to properly clean the battery terminals on your car. Method 2 of 4: Clean the battery with household items You may have to wiggle and pry the cable end off. Step 4: Lift the top-post battery cable end off of the terminal. If you have a side-post battery, loosen the cable end until the cable is removed. If you have a top-post battery, you’ll just need to loosen the nuts until there is no tension on the clamp. Place the battery cable wrench on the battery cable end nut and turn it counterclockwise. Start by removing the negative cable first. Warning: Always wear eye protection and gloves when working with a car battery to prevent accidental injury from battery acid. In order to properly clean your battery terminal connections, you’ll need to disconnect both the positive and negative cable ends from the battery. Method 1 of 4: Remove the battery terminals If enough corrosion forms between the cable ends and the terminals, it can actually prevent the battery’s power from flowing from the battery through the cables.Ĭorrosion on battery connections can be cleaned off using a couple of different methods, and you can help protect your battery from frequent corrosion.
The battery is off-gassing hydrogen in the charging processĬorrosion shows up in the form of a crusty, fuzzy-looking substance that leaves a mess on your car battery terminals and cable ends. The terminal and the cable end are different types of metal. If either one isn’t connected, you won’t have any power to start your car.Ĭorrosion forms on the terminal for two main reasons: The negative cable attaches to your car’s chassis to complete the ground circuit. The positive cable end connects your battery to the power distribution center that provides power to every system in your vehicle. Over time and use, corrosion can form on your car battery’s terminals in, on, and around the battery cable ends. It needs to operate as intended every time you start your car. It is a reserve power source as well, in case there is more demand for power than your alternator can produce while your engine is running. The ring had to be sawed off his finger at the emergency room, and it was more than a month before the burn specialist was sure he wouldn't lose the finger altogether.Your car battery’s main role is to allow your engine to start when you turn the key. Within a second, my friend's wedding ring was almost red-hot, and only a fast reaction with his other hand to break the connection by hitting the wrench prevented it from remaining connected long enough to melt. A shorted car battery can easily deliver several hundred amps - more than an arc-welding machine. A massive short circuit welded his ring to the holddown and to the wrench, which in turn was welded to the positive terminal.Ĭar batteries store an enormous amount of energy, and they're optimized to deliver it in a very short period of time. The wrench made contact with his wedding ring (he's lefthanded), and the ring in turn made contact with the battery holddown. In preparation for some other work, he elected to remove the battery from the car, using a box wrench to loosen the battery clamps. I've never noticed any spilled electricity, and I think he's just pulling my leg.Ī: Let me relate something that happened to a friend of mine, a dentist by trade who likes to work on his sports car occasionally. 
I just unhook whichever terminal is closest first.
Q: A friend of mine told me that I should always disconnect the positive terminal of the battery first to keep the electricity from spilling out of the battery.
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