How to Remove Corrosion From Car Battery

Whether you’re experiencing car battery issues and want to clean off your battery terminals, or you’ve inspected your car battery during a routine checkup and noticed that it has a powdery layer of corrosion on it, we here at San Antonio Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM can help. We assist New Braunfuls and Boerne drivers with pressing maintenance and service issues all the time, and we’re happy to help you alleviate your battery corrosion issues! Give us a call now at 210-405-1562 or schedule service online!

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 Seguin, 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 Service at San Antonio Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM!

Not only can you remove battery corrosion with baking soda, water, and a cloth, but you can also apply a specially designed battery corrosion inhibitor spray or gel to prevent further buildup from occurring. That having been said, if you don’t know what to do, or you simply don’t want to deal with your battery issues on your own, you are more than welcome to bring your vehicle to our MOPAR service center! Don’t forget to check out our service specials while you’re at it!