How To Keep Battery Terminals free from Corrosion

 

Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape is crucial in Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga, where every moment of the commute counts. An often-overlooked aspect of car maintenance is the battery, which needs your attention as much—or more—as other parts of the car, truck or SUV. How do you maintain a battery? One of the important aspects is dealing with the unavoidable build-up of corrosion. With the proper steps and safety measures, this can be a DIY item on your vehicle maintenance checklist.

– Always wear gloves and safety glasses. Battery acid should never touch your skin, car or clothing.

– Disconnect the battery. Start with the negative cable first, securing each of the cables so that they do not come into contact with the battery at any point during the cleaning process.

– Make a paste with baking soda and water. Use an old toothbrush to apply the paste and scrub the terminals and cables clean. Some people use Coke to clean battery terminals. Whichever cleaning solution you opt for, follow up with a wire brush to clean more stubborn battery corrosion.

– Rinse everything well with water, avoiding contact with any electrical connections. Take care not to splash water and definitely take a few moments to dry the battery with a clean rag.

– Reconnect the cables: start with positive first, then the negative cable. Take your time and secure them properly.

– Spray the battery terminal with a reputable protectant to prevent future corrosion.

Sometimes the corrosion is so advanced that it will necessary to replace the terminals on the cables or the actual cables themselves. A properly maintained battery and cables will last quite a long time. Take a regular peek at your vehicle’s battery to check the terminals for corrosive buildup and deal with it immediately. You’re protecting your investment, and that’s smart ownership.

Where is Ontario Chrysler? We are easy to find in Mississauga and Toronto at 5280 Dixie Road, Mississauga.