Batteries are an important part — perhaps one of the most important parts — of a running car. Without a functional battery, your car is practically useless. Keeping your car battery in good working order means you should know how to clean car battery terminals.
Battery terminals are found on the end of battery cables and are used to connect the cables to the battery posts. If they become dirty or corroded, you might have trouble starting your car. Or worse, they might damage your battery. Add these six easy steps to your car maintenance routine for how to properly clean a car battery terminal.
How To Clean Car Battery Terminals
1. Look For Signs Of Corrosion
The first thing to do is to look for signs of corrosion. If your car won’t start or if it struggles to start, it could be that you have a bad or corroded battery terminal. Another sign is any kind of electrical problems such as dimming headlights or your audio system fading in and out. If you are experiencing any of these problems, the best thing to do is to check under the hood.
The battery terminals are the part of the battery that connects the battery cables to the negative and positive battery posts. They could be the issue if there is corrosion on or around them. Look for signs of any powdery white or blue corrosion on the terminals or along the battery cable.
2. Gather Supplies
To clean the battery terminals, you only need a couple of products. The most important thing you need to remember is to wear protective gear. Safety glasses and work gloves are an absolute must. You also need a cleaning agent, a battery brush, a towel or two, and a spray bottle with water. A battery terminal protector will also help prevent future corrosion.
3. Locate Your Car Battery
After making sure your engine is off, the first step to cleaning the battery terminals is to locate the battery. Most batteries are located underneath the hood of the car. With some cars, the battery may be located in the trunk, but the majority are under the hood on the left or right side of the engine bay.
4. Disconnect The Battery Terminals
After you’ve found the battery, take the cover off the battery. Disconnecting the battery can be a little tricky. You should always remove the negative terminal first. If you have any questions, consult the owner’s manual for your car. You will need to loosen the clamps that connect the terminals to the battery posts in order to disconnect them from your battery.
First, loosen and remove the negative terminal. Then, do the same with the positive terminal. Avoid touching anything metal while handling the battery terminals. This is also a good time to inspect the battery terminals, battery cables, and battery posts to make sure there aren’t any signs of excessive wear or corrosion.
5. Clean The Battery Terminals And Battery Posts
The first step to effectively cleaning battery terminals is to pick the right cleaning agent. Though you can use a mixture of water and baking soda, we recommend a dedicated cleaning agent specifically designed to remove battery corrosion. Picking the right agent can drastically improve the speed and quality of the cleaning.
Once you’ve applied the cleaner to the battery terminals, rub in the cleaner with a battery brush. Make sure you spread it evenly over all areas where there might be corrosion. Scrub the terminals with the battery brush to remove any dirt, grease, or visible corrosion. You can also scrub down the battery posts using the battery brush to ensure you have a clean surface to reconnect your battery terminals.
Next, rinse off the terminals and battery using water in a spray bottle. Once clean, dry off the terminals, posts, and battery. After ensuring this is all dry, spray on the battery terminal protector to help slow future corrosion. Once you’ve cleaned and dried everything, it’s time to reconnect your battery terminals.
6. Reconnect The Battery Terminals
When you’re reconnecting the battery terminals, make sure you do it in the reverse order. Always reconnect the positive side first. Then, reconnect the negative side, and put on the battery cover. Once you’ve cleaned and reconnected the battery, your car should start up without any complaints.
6 Steps For How To Clean Car Battery Terminals
1. Look For Signs Of Corrosion
2. Gather Supplies
3. Locate Your Car Battery
4. Disconnect The Battery Terminals
5. Clean The Battery Terminals And Battery Posts
6. Reconnect The Battery Terminals
