How To Clean A Car Battery
When a car battery goes flat or has a problem then often it can indicate that there is a mechanical fault at hand. Usually, this will require intervention from a mechanic or automotive specialist, sometimes though a battery isn’t damaged and may just require a clean. Luckily this is something that you can do yourself, and you shouldn’t need to take the battery to a specialist.
Learning how to clean a car battery, particularly corroded car battery terminals will avoid unnecessary expenses and worries. Here are some steps you can take to clean a car battery and see to see if yours can be revived
Turn Off Your Car’s Engine
The first step before you do anything is to make sure your car’s engine is turned off. This negates any chance of injury occurring. The battery is also much easier to clean if you disconnect your car battery. To disconnect the battery, you’ll want to loosen the nuts on the clamps of the battery with a wrench. You’ll then want to remove the clamp marked with the negative symbol (-) and then remove the clamp with the positive symbol (+). If the clamps are difficult to remove and are heavily corroded, then you may want to bring a pair of pliers with you.
Mix Your Cleaning Solution
To make the cleaning solution, you need one tablespoon of baking soda and then mix it into a cup of water. Once you’ve created the mixture get an old toothbrush and use it to scrub away any signs of corrosion you see on the battery’s terminals. If there’s a lot of corrosion in place, then you’ll want to scrub thoroughly to make sure the terminals are clean.
If the corrosion is particularly challenging to remove, then you may want to use a wire brush to help remove the tough areas of corrosion. When you’ve cleaned the terminals, take some cold water, and rinse the terminals to remove any residue. Use an old rag or towel to dry off the terminals making sure all of the baking soda solution has been removed.
Reconnect The Terminals
Once the terminals are clean, you can reconnect the clamps to the terminals. You’ll want to do this in reverse order to the way you disconnected the battery terminals. Attach the positive clamp first and then attach the negative clamp. Take a wrench to tighten them up if they are still a little bit loose. If there are no kinks or breaks in the wiring, then your battery should now be ready to use again.
Jiffy Lube Can Help
If you’re unsure of what’s going on with your car’s battery, then you can check in with Jiffy Lube to see what’s going on. The technicians at Jiffy Lube can help diagnose any problems with your car’s battery.
It may be a simple issue such as the battery needing a clean, or it may be something a little more complicated. If your battery needs replacing then Jiffy Lube offers car battery replacement services that can help you get back on the road as soon as possible.
