It’s best to check under your hood from time to time and make sure your batteries aren’t getting corroded. If your batteries are corroding, you’ll notice a white, green, blue, or teal powder around your terminals. Read on to learn more about how to identify corrosion, the causes of battery corrosion, and how to safely clean and maintain your car battery terminals. Then, if you find you’re in need of car battery replacement near Queen Creek or Apache Junction, take a moment to explore the service specials to see how much you can save on a replacement car battery at Courtesy CDJR of Superstition Springs in Mesa!
What Does Corrosion Look Like?
You might suspect battery corrosion before you actually see it if you’ve experienced weaker power, trouble starting your car, or low voltage codes displayed on the dash. If these corrosion symptoms crop up, you’ll know it’s time to do a visual check for corrosion. Here’s how:
- When your vehicle is fully cool and hasn’t been used for at least 30 minutes, pop the hood so you can inspect the battery terminals and metal.
- If the terminal is caked in white (or sometimes a combo of green/blue/teal), powdery material, you’re dealing with corrosion.
- While you’re taking a look, you should also take note of any rust on the metal parts of your terminals and cables.
What Causes Car Battery Corrosion?
Time is the main cause of battery corrosion. Your battery is constantly heating and cooling as you travel through Apache Junction, releasing hydrogen gases through ventilation. As these gases are continually let-off over time, they mix with the surrounding material and create a substance at the connection point. As you may have guessed, that substance is the corrosion you see, and it occurs at the terminal because that’s where the electric connection is in the case of a car battery.
How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion
When looking at how to remove corrosion from a car battery, there are two main ways you can do so. You could use solutions bought from an auto parts store, which are made specifically for car batteries, or you could concoct a solution yourself using household products. Either way, be sure to put on gloves, goggles, and a respirator when handling the solution or creating your own to protect yourself, as well as while you’re working around battery acid, electric currents, and rust.
Use a professional battery cleaner
- You can acquire a battery cleaning solution or other electrical contact cleaning spray from an auto store. Spray liberally on the affected surface of the battery, then brush with a wire brush until all of the corrosion is removed.
DIY battery cleaning solution
- Remove the connectors from the terminal, then pour baking soda on the corrosion to neutralize the acids. Then, add some water to catalyze a reaction. Dry with a paper towel, then brush the affected area with a scrub sponge.
After removing the corrosion from your car’s battery terminals, you can prevent future corrosion with a rust inhibitor spray, a spray battery protector, or an anti-corrosion gel.
Schedule for Car Battery Service Near Tempe
If you have questions about how to clean corrosion off your car battery, how to identify corrosion, or how to obtain the special spray or gels that prevent corrosion, give Courtesy CDJR of Superstition Springs a call at 480-418-5715. We can answer any outstanding question you may have, and help you out with a swift and affordable battery inspection and replacement if necessary. While you’re here, take a moment to explore some of our other helpful reads, including our guide on how to make your tires last longer and how to check brake fluid. We look forward to providing you with expert and affordable service!
