Your vehicle relies on its battery, and that is especially true on those cold winter mornings when even the newest battery can struggle to get going. That means that making sure it is in tip-top condition is a must.
If your vehicle’s battery is old, or has a habit of failing (even when it’s not freezing cold out) the chances are that it needs to be retired and replaced. However, when a newer battery fails sometimes it’s simply good old-fashioned dust and dirt that is to blame. If your battery terminals are dirty, the battery itself will struggle to function as it supposed to but the battery itself may still be good.
You can clean these battery terminals yourself, as long as you know how. Here’s what you need to do to make sure your battery terminals are spotless:
Turn off the Engine – That may sound like a bit of a no-brainer but many people do actually forget, and while this is a very straightforward process, for the most part, there is always a slight risk of injury. Turning off the engine will minimize that risk.
Do Some Basic Disassembly – Turning to the battery, loosen the nut that is holding your negative cable in place using a wrench. Detach the cable from the post and then ‘rinse and repeat’ the process on the other side.
Do a Visual Inspection – Take a few minutes to visually inspect your vehicle’s battery. What you are specifically looking for is any fissures or cracks. If you do notice any, even if they seem relatively small, this almost always indicates that there is a problem with the battery that goes beyond simple dirt and you need to take the vehicle – and the battery – to a mechanic to have it properly inspected. The same is true if the clamps or cables look worn or frayed.
Mix Your ‘Magic Potion’ – If you don’t see any of the trouble signs we just mentioned then you can go ahead and mix the simple – but very effective – ‘magic potion’ you’ll need to perform your cleaning task. And it really is simple (and cheap) as all you need is a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in a cup of warm water.
Get Cleaning – Dip an old toothbrush into the mixture and use it to scrub away any signs of corrosion you see on your battery terminals. Don’t be afraid to really scour thoroughly to get things squeaky clean. You may have to soak your toothbrush in the baking soda mixture a couple of times as you keep scrubbing away.
When everything looks good, use a spray bottle filled with cool, clean water to rinse any residue of the mixture off (that’s very important) and then use an old rag or towel to pat the clamps and battery dry. That done, use a little bit of petroleum jelly to lubricate the terminals and then reattach the cables to their correct terminals.
