Corrosion on Your Car / Truck Battery? Cleaning Tips! It’s Important!

You may find some dusty green or brown corrosion on your battery, especially near the terminals or metal tie downs. If you discover this, it may be the result of an overcharge condition, undercharge condition, or excessive venting of the battery. This video shows you how to clean the battery up, why you should, and other places to check for additional corrosion, like the terminal ends and wires, that could cause more problems with your electrical system, even after you replace a battery!
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⚠ DISCLAIMER:
While 1A Auto strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. 1A Auto is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

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[@johndinusson8070]

*This battery reconditioning program exceeded my presumptions. It worked on any drill battery, several AA and AAA batteries, **batery.repair** and any camera battery. The steps are simple and the act itself is exciting to do. No matter what type of battery you`ve got, it is sure to function again!*

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Female who has always been dependant on others to help with car issues. Unfortunately most people think they know BUT THEY DONT KNOW what their doing! These videos are just perfect me and others who are just learning. Thank you so much. Amazing...

[@newttella1043]

You are correct! Dudes don't want to admit to how clueless they are so they just charge ahead with a "fix".

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Ditto

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I recently graduated from automotive school and I can attest to the accuracy of this channel. Among all of the car gurus and supposed experts throughout youtube, 1A Auto gives accurate, detailed information on many veihlce issues. Much of what they discuss are concepts I learned in school.

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As someone unhappy with the help I rely on from selfless ppl these videos help me no longer need them. 😂

[@faithfulgab]

OMGGGG SAME HERE 🙌🏼THANK GOD AFOR THEIR VIDEOS 😊

[@brandongiroux7448]

Definitely the best teacher on this channel. For those who aren't full red seal mechanics, he makes things simple and direct. Thanks man!

[@johnl9135]

I keep forget why the terminal keep getting corrosion and came here to refresh my memories, but at the same time got info how to properly cleaned the battery too. Great info, thanks.

[@ronaldkorte8094]

When cleaning the tops of the batteries, I always plug the holes with rubber stoppers to keep the cleaner out of the internals of the battery. Has always worked well for me.

[@johnhynal6633]

Gotta admit at 77 years that a red headed stranger could teach me anything about battery maintenance that I didn't know. Duh... Best presentation ever! Thanks.

[@helpisonthewaytutoring4259]

This is a great video! So informative and detailed yet easy enough for someone with little experience to understand. I especially appreciate the explanation of the causes of corrosion. The fact that I have corrosion on the positive terminal and the illustration of the need to take the battery out helped me decide to wait 2 days and get my voltage regulator checked vs. tackle the cleaning myself. Thanks for the helpful content!

[@chrisg334]

The most flamboyant mechanic I have ever seen.

[@RFSpartan]

Seriously...gayer than a $2 bill

[@lloydwilliams7674]

Concise yet thorough presentation by a well spoken and obviously qualified professional. Very well done! Thanks.

[@benmcclure85]

You broke this down in such a simple and useful way for people who aren't mechanics to understand! This is an excellent guide.

[@cornpop7805]

Thank you for taking the time to help people with their cars! I'm a lifetime electrical guy and I would like to add: Voltage doesn't flow, current flows. A lot of people like the water analogy, so let's use that. Voltage would be analogous to pressure and just assume whatever the device that requires Voltage, is already designed for that Voltage (pressure) too little or too much voltage to the device, can cause issues. However, current that flows to devices, can vary depending on certain factors. For instance, your stereo will use less current when the volume is low and more when the volume is high. Windshield wipers: less current on low than high, etc. You battery delivers more current (flow), through the cable, the more devices it's powering, could be: headlamps + radio + wipers + defrost. The alternator is wired in parallel to the battery, so it powers items, or shares the load, when the engine is running.

[@inner_kundalini]

This is absolutely THE BEST video on battery care. I understand now so much more about batteries and care, and so clearly. Thank you sincerely 💚💚💚💚

[@davidlummus4833]

I love seeing your videos! I need to do the cleaning of my battery terminals, but just because of how fun and informational this was, I even want to show my fiance! Thanks guys!

[@indycog]

I love this guy! I knew half the info but kept watching for his moxie.

[@agostinodibella9939]

I never heard of corrosion of the different terminals due to different over or under charge conditions. That’s interesting. Very cool test with the LED bulb to show the small current drain on the top of the battery! I never saw that before, which really makes you think about keeping the battery clean! Excellent video overall!

[@Josephplaysrblx]

Blippi meets car mechanics. Loved this video and your energy!

[@israelsarabia2700]

I wish all videos were as good as this one here on KZbin! Thank you for explaining all this...!

[@DIYLifeSkills]

Best battery maintenance video on KZbin!!! Great job guys.

[@1AAuto]

Thank you!

[@AngelTorres-pm9yl]

Lol! “You do you boo boo…” I’m in love. Brains, brans and sas! 😍 Thank you for this. Gonna work on my battery 🔋 tomorrow.

[@Carlostype]

The best battery maintenance video there is! Never thought of contaminants getting to the cells

[@1AAuto]

Thanks for watching! Glad we could help! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-Now

[@halo2bullseye922]

Factssss !!

[@tomjones2348]

Superb presentation. Well written, edited, narrated, and good cam work. I haven't finished watching it yet. Just finished doing the voltage meter testing. Thank you.

[@butterfingersman]

thanks for the clear and thorough 60fps video! iits always a treat to see how to do things nice and clearly like this.

[@stringalongmike1953]

1967 Cameo Ivory GTO at 4:33. Nice. This is a fantastic video, the best I have seen on battery corrosion.

[@websterbrandcoaching9724]

Thank you for explaining this so well, above and beyond just the procedure

[@redangrybird7564]

I've watched 20 videos on the topic and this is the best one so far, good on you. 😎👍

[@johngoold1218]

Perfect, perfect, perfect. I've watched tons of 1A Auto vids and bought from them.

[@maylenebell8815]

This was the best and most informative video i have found on battery care ! Love the humor Thank you !

[@robertnewman4105]

Great info! I've been cleaning the terminals about 2 or 3 x a year and it never had much corrosion. But now doing some winter prep, I've got some blue build up corrosion. Cleaned it and going to have it checked further soon.

[@igork.2271]

Thx man, the most accurate and precise tip about cleaning battery corrosion. You helped me a lot.

[@ms79ta]

Thank you for the extra knowledge. Battery in my car never does this but my F-150, the one with all the brains (😁) , has given me issues with corrosion on the positive post. You're very thorough and easy to learn from. 👍

[@nikovandh]

What an excellent battery cleaning information video!

[@1AAuto]

+Nicolaas Van de Houten Thanks for the feedback!

[@BingoBongoMan]

great video, explained many of my questions I had over the years, like why disconnecting battery ground first. thumbs up.

[@1AAuto]

Thanks for watching!

[@farrellnuszjr9216]

The best most thorough one I’ve listened to

[@Buttfinckle]

I just realized i usually click 1A Auto’s videos when it comes to car issues and have been doing it for nearly 10yrs. Damn

[@djgeller737]

Thats how its done Simply explained ! Way to go !

[@y2k704]

You explained this really well and you're very passionate about this and it shows

[@aristayabarr9419]

Thank you SO much! This video is so informative and explains WHY things look the way they do and what do do about it.

[@steveveld9244]

Very informative, explaining why certain methods are correct or not. Really appreciate the detail.

[@AlfordLau]

The most thorough on this topic. Thank you.

[@MrBigbear1684]

One observation that I made was as the battery nears its END OF LIFE their increased off gassing from the battery and subsequently the top of the battery is "moistened" with acid from the battery and the corrosion increases at an alarming rate on both terminals but mostly on the positive terminal.

[@stephenwatler5632]

Very professionally presented Very knowledgeable Taught me something that I never knew and that is the voltage leakage on the battery top. The over and under charging indicator is also very new to me I am going to inspect my battery and cables tomorrow Thank you very much

[@KoolK-jp9dh]

Thank you. You are very informative and entertaining. Very intelligent, thorough and yet consistently concise. Blessings

[@howdydo7320]

Best battery video i have viewed.

[@koomo801]

Great video! I've been doing my own auto maintenance since the '70s and I learned several new things from your video. The only improvement I could suggest is to add timestamps.

[@tornado7002]

Very professional and well put together video sir. I learned a lot today. Thank you.

[@cm4644]

Excellent video. Clear instructions and explanations are very helpful.

[@mpabalate1118]

Great job! Really good information and expressed intelligently. Top shelf!

[@1AAuto]

Thank you!

[@SantosProd]

Great work here! appreciate the knowledge as well it answers many "why?" Questions. and even going as far as showing us the work is awesome appreciate this content please continue to create more

[@carlosflores9205]

The best battery service video

[@cavegardens4686]

Good teacher! You actually left no stone unturned

[@jemijona]

He didn't quite explain why to remove the negative terminal first and connect it last.

[@Shave-ice]

My 2017 Titan XD had trouble starting! Neighbor came over and checked it out and pointed out there was a lot of corrosion on the batteries. Cleaned it up and works good.

[@elizabethvillalobos4504]

Thank you I learned from this. Continue to teach with simple words. Because it helps me to understand

[@gts5930]

This guy is awesome! Learned a lot from this video. Thank you!

[@emzene389]

Seriously appreciate all the information. Thank you!

[@1AAuto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FerenzeeBlazingReapr]

This was a very informative and well done video. I learned a lot of things that I never knew. And even some things I though I knew that were wrong!

[@wenjuan1980]

thanks for this complete and detailed video, very helpful

[@recklesslyarrogant7242]

Wow. This video was the best battery video I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of crap. Good job.

[@squidben5780]

Excellent video very informative, learned a few things like there could be voltage from one end to the other on the outside vent!

[@chadhoes606]

This was great. Got a new battery yesterday. Terminals were very corroded. I thought the guy did everything necessary when replacing it, but the battery died again. So I get to get up early tomorrow and use what I learned here to clean those terminals. He tested the starter and alternator and said they tested fine.

[@idmhead0160]

Installed a new battery for you and didn't even bother cleaning the terminals? I'm assuming you mean the connectors?

[@journeyofbear6423]

Thank you 1A Auto! Your videos are great.

[@masonix_angel_morningstar7891]

You explained in so much details and sheer eloquence I'm convince you have gotten training in public speaking and speech broadcast

[@R3RLEE]

Great information..thanks...didn't know about the under charging on the negitive terminal.

[@vvalasek]

Great tips and explanation - thanks again.

[@leojoseph6385]

Thanks, really helpful with the mitigation.

[@alecsander007]

Very informative I didn't know the cause of build up in a negative side and the positive side thanks

[@natashabrady8977]

Great job. Very detailed and informative. Thanks

[@1AAuto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rhondafountain648]

I so enjoyed the theatrics of your training & it made a difference totally. Gotta have fun with knowledge & sharing it. I will be attempting to clean my battery today. Question: why didn't you clean the area where the battery sits on-it was very dirty? Felt like you should it up after cleaning the battery so nicely. Thanks

[@dentedhelmet8584]

Fine job. Great explanation. Thank You!

[@michaelfagan5229]

Excellent Video Thanks. Had I followed the instructions of some other videos I would have just lazily poured the baking soda and water mixture on the terminals. Your video explains why this isn't a good idea!

[@stangmann1521]

W-D 40 work very well too!

[@stephen5147]

Excellent information. Thanks.

[@definitely_summer]

THANK YOU! So appreciate your information!

[@dilshadahmed8610]

Excellent brief information got from this video thanks It will helpfull for all peoples who has no experience regarding battery problem and solution thanks well done

[@MrCeora]

Badass video with tons of info. Thanks!

[@boots7859]

My dad was a NY certified mechanic and all around petrol head, who also owned a gas/repair shop. Dialectric grease is good, however you can also simply apply vaseline around the battery terminal and leads before reattaching everything. Seems to last 2-3 years here in the NE, which is probably about when one would need to do some basic PMCS on a battery anyways. Since I have Permatex Anti-Seize, I use that which also works very well.

[@1AAuto]

+Boots Thanks for the feedback!

[@johnjohns2333]

I use a Vaseline coated fabric washer under the terminals when the battery water is topped off in each cell and the top is sealed and cleaned.

[@MrRedHotChiliMan]

@@johnjohns2333what type of water, will tap work? Or should it be distilled?

[@brucekellett2269]

@@MrRedHotChiliMan only distilled mate

[@barrywalker1809]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@deboharris789]

Best battery video I’ve seen 👍🏾 lol

[@ozscorpio7]

Good video and really good technician , to the point

[@mahmoudalshawi2010]

Thanks a lot Len for the all details. .

[@1AAuto]

+Mahmoud Al Shawi Thanks for checking us out! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@krisbohn4118]

Great video, very informative.

[@kawzmOS]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@sonyyoung1036]

Thorough review. Great job

[@1AAuto]

Thanks for watching

[@drew-andresvogt652]

good explanations, thank you

[@isaiahfrey9549]

Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity. It simply has a greater water resistance than standard grease

[@gns2550]

i hear people say electrical tape conducts electricity too

[@haythamabdel-qader6934]

Love this dude. great video.

[@ThatDudeFlex1]

Great video man well explained 👍

[@joepoutine4969]

Great video lots of info well explained thank you

[@1AAuto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Eliusalmo1]

Excellent! Best of the best! Thanks!

[@AntonioSabella]

Great video. Thank you!!

[@exserk]

Thank you for this video.

[@littlepepper4370]

This guy would be a cool person to hang out with at the bar

[@nmt4421]

This is very good knowledge video and Thank you. I have one question about Ignition & battery sealer and battery terminal protector. Are they the same products? Can i use battery terminal protector instead of ignition & battery sealer or dielectric grease?

[@kennb.4169]

Cheers, and thank you!

[@fernandolarios4801]

Good and useful information.

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Great video! Thanks!!

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Great video, thank you

[@1AAuto]

Thank you for checking out the video. If you need auto parts go to: 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-Now

[@ceavalencia4767]

This answered why my negative post keeps building corrosion on my 2nd battery for car audio. I'm only in at 2 minutes. Now I'm scared lol but I needed the truth.

[@aj-dl5lc]

Very well explained 👍

[@1AAuto]

Thank you 🙂

[@mdhartshorn]

How would you recommend disposing of cleaning fluid (water-baking soda) that's been used?