Clean battery terminals are essential for a car to perform at its best state. Car battery terminals that are covered with build-ups and dust might prevent the car from getting the full battery transmission from the terminals. When the terminals become filthy, it might cause the car’s engine or battery to die off easily. Nevertheless, not every car drivers know how to clean car battery terminals. So here are some cleaning steps for your own reference.
Before you start the cleaning process, you will need to remove the terminals from the battery. Protect yourself with gloves or goggles if needed because the containing solution is acidic and can be harmful to skin and eyes. To clean your car battery terminals, you will need an iron brush. Brush and clean the positive terminals until they are shinny clean. For the negative terminals, they are usually harder to reach and screwdrivers are used for the cleaning process. Terminals that are covered with corrosion need to be brushed and sometimes, a screwdriver is used to scrape off the excessive build-ups.
Then, blow off the dirt that is scraped or brushed out from the terminals. If they are cleaned properly, you will see shinny terminals instead of old rusty ones that are covered with build-ups.
Check each of the wires to see if there is white or greenish powder on it by tapping it with a screwdriver or onto the battery. If you see the powder on your wires, there could be leakage and you will have to seek for a professional to fix that problem for you. He/she might need to cut off a few inches of your wire due to corrosion, or you might need to replace it with new wire if the corrosion goes too deep inside.
Other than using the brushing method, you can also use baking soda or sodium bicarbonate solution for cleaning these car battery terminals. Mix a cup of water with 6 tablespoons of baking soda, and stir well to form a concentrated solution. Be aware that there might be current between the connecting terminals. Remove the positive terminals before you pour baking soda solutions onto the battery. Slowly pour the solution onto one side of the terminals and you will immediately see the bubbling effect. Use a toothbrush to scrub the terminals then pour clean water onto it. Wipe it off with a paper towel and make sure that it is dry before you move to the next terminal.
These simple cleaning steps tell you how to clean car battery terminals and it can be done by you to maintain your car battery. Be sure to follow the precautions to protect you and to prevent any injuries.
