How To Clean Battery Terminals In Your Car

[@coleleelee3601]

This was excellent very detailed and class 101 explaining 👍🏿

[@danielbinyon6632]

When the battery is clean and dry check the water level in each of the cells by removing the caps. Each cell will have some full level indicator. Use distilled water and do not overfill. Auto stores also carry premixed battery acid.

[@chada472]

Battery posts corrode because of leaks around the post where the case is supposed to seal on the post. I always use some silicone around the post where it connects to the case and the problem is solved. Good to do this when its brand new.

[@danielbinyon6632]

Good idea. I never thought of that.

[@TrumpLoves]

Is silicone acid resistant?

[@chada472]

Yes​@@TrumpLoves

[@tonym6920]

While it’s OK to check the level of the battery with a multimeter, it’s also important to use device that measures the cold cranking amps or CCA.

[@stayawesomecards]

Thanks for the great video! I took great notes

[@AHMET_AYDINLI]

Good job. Thanks for the sharing.

[@ryblinkaway]

Aaahh...I see how you clean the battery terminals very nice.... except I wished you include on how to also clean the battery terminals clamp connectors

[@jryanr2010]

4:59

[@renebour1]

Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity, it is used to repel humidity. On terminals I would prefer to use Electrical contact grease specially made to conduct electricity.

[@Tony-mq5yo]

Don't worry, the dielectric grease will get squeezed out when you tie the connector. In my previous job we did this all the time with lead acid batteries. I know it sounds counter intuitive but it is true. This is more of an mechanical thing than electrical thing. By the way I am an electrical engineer with a degree and with 34 years of experience.

[@charleswilson2020]

veerry good video

[@TrumpLoves]

VERY hot water cleans it quick. Nothing else. VERY HOT water... Just pour it on the terminals...

[@Intermezzo_Ivory]

What about the connectors and potential corrosion

[@TrumpLoves]

@@Intermezzo_Ivory You dry it. I've been doing it for years it works great. Try it one time very very hot water..

[@schandler4958]

When I had a 64 Plymouth Valiant, I used Coca Cola to get rid of the stuff. I rarely find that it happens with my newer vehicles that are 1999 and 2004,

[@YourHomeGarage]

I’ve never tried soda, but I’ve heard it works well. Thanks for the tip.

[@valleygirltotallyforsure]

You don't want to use soda because the sugars and other stuff in it is really bad for your car.

[@Intermezzo_Ivory]

If i use a multimeter to check the battery do i need to disconnect the battery ?

[@jimkelly4286]

No. Check with engine off otherwise you will measure charging voltage of alternator near 14 V.

[@peacebeuntoyou8934]

Pour hot water from the kettle over the terminals. No need to remove the battery.

[@coleleelee3601]

Do you still have to disconnect positive and negative post tho when using this method?

[@peacebeuntoyou8934]

@@coleleelee3601 No, just don't flood the place.

[@joerudzik3238]

Original Coke Cola. My dad showed me that on and I still wonder what I'm drinking.

[@divinelashay333]

Do we have to remove the battery

[@ZenAlloy]

nope!

[@malipeddivanaja8077]

Nice

[@neilrobinson5115]

Is it dusty where you live,how do the terminals get that bad with regular maintenance,or not,good video though

[@YourHomeGarage]

It is dusty in the Badlands, and this was a ranch truck for 17 years.

[@neilrobinson5115]

That explains it,I wasn’t being sarcastic

[@YourHomeGarage]

All good - I didn’t take it as sarcasm!

[@PatisserieRoyale]

I don't think your suppose to apply dialectric grease straight on to the terminal post! As the grease is non conductive, only apply it on the outside of terminal post

[@YourHomeGarage]

Great point and you are correct, dielectric grease doesn't conduct electricity - it's actually an insulator. Though, when applied to electrical fittings with tight mechanical connections, dielectric grease helps to keep moisture, salt, dirt and corrosion out of those areas. That's why you can literally goop it into an electrical connection with many wires; if it were a conductor, everything in a multi-wire connector would likely fail. Basically, it protects, not conducts. The main takeaway for this videos application is a tight mechanical connection and protection against corrosion. That way the terminals won't look the way they started at the beginning of the video. If your connection is tight, dielectric grease won't negatively impact the electrical system connection - but without it, a buildup of corrosion could definitely impact the electrical connection. I recently replaced the headlights on my daughters RAV4; the inside of the electrical socket was lubricated with grease from the manufacturer. This made the connection clean and no debris such as corrosion. As a side note you can use dielectric grease on light sockets, distributor caps, spark plug boots, headlights, ignition wires, fuses and of course battery terminals.

[@joeidaho5938]

@@YourHomeGarage Agree. I refurbished my wiring harness when I recently rebuilt my engine on a 92 F250, and the connections are all loaded with dielectric grease. No problems at all from doing that. If the connection is solid, then it's solid...and the grease just insulates from moisture and corrosion.

[@sdriza]

correct!

[@dennisvoelker664]

The grease will not effect it you can even put on white lithium grease right on post with no problem.

[@sk8tb1]

Doesn’t poring water into the battery causes electrical circuit

[@YourHomeGarage]

I think a lot of people would argue both sides of the fence on this question. If your battery is located under the hood, it's naturally exposed to moisture, though the terminals still remain fairly dry. The rule I follow; water does not conduct much, so it's not likely to short out your battery - at least in the context of a car battery. Where it gets interesting is with a dirty car battery. If the battery is dirty, all that debris is electrically charged. Just place a multimeter on the top of a dry dirty battery and take an electrical charge reading as I’ve demonstrated in one of my videos. My concern with pouring water on a connected dirty battery is on the off chance it would move and align all the debris that could act as a conductor.

[@OhDannyboy7]

Thanks, your last sentence is what was missing from videos that say you could short it if you pour water while it is connected, but they really didn't explain why (accept for getting water in the compartments) but no one has mentioned the possibility of debris or other things posing problems as a conductor. You helped to shed new light on the subject, great video!

[@YourHomeGarage]

Not that I’m trying to get you to watch another one of my videos - but if you look at this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaq3ZZarfdqGeM0 and measure how electrically charged the dirt is on your battery, it should provide some interesting information.

[@thetruth871]

this is ridicules and it's a waist of time to remove the battery, i have a simple and easy way? just use a cup of hot water on each the terminals, of the battery and the job is done in 5 seconds. cheers

[@YourHomeGarage]

I’ve seen DIY’ers do exactly what you’re recommending - and in a few cases it seems to have worked. I personally wouldn’t recommend it as it’s not a one size fits all solution. The baking soda as a best practice is meant to neutralize the acid buildup. In addition, if the battery is dirty, all that debris is electrically charged. Just place a multimeter on the top of a dry dirty battery and take an electrical charge reading as I’ve demonstrated in one of my videos. My concern would be someone just pouring hot water on a connected battery which could move all the mineral deposits around and then act as a conductor. I likey don’t have to explain the risk at that point. In short, I would still recommend the longer and more effective/safer way of cleaning the battery vs a short cut that could cause bigger issues.

[@thetruth871]

@@YourHomeGarage i have bee doing this for years and never had any problems cheers

[@joeidaho5938]

@@thetruth871 water just washes away what is on the surface. The corrosion gets all over the battery and carries a light amount of current, which depletes your battery's ability to supply current to the car's components. You can keep using water....but you're not actually neutralizing the battery acid which can cause current drain.

[@peteymckinzie6216]

your a little long winded get to the point faster alot is erelavent get to how to clean battery posts.