How to Clean Car Battery Terminal

 
You might vacuum the inside of your car or wax the outside to keep it clean, but did you know there's something easy you can do under the hood to keep your vehicle clean, too? We're talking about your car's battery.

The battery is what gets the engine going, but when the battery terminals are covered in corrosion, you might end up being stuck. Audi North Miami wants to ensure you know how to clean your car battery terminal to get the most out of car battery life in Miami, Miami Beach, and Hollywood.

Steps to Clean Car Battery Terminal

Ridding your battery of corrosion is important. Corrosion around the battery terminal can lead to the car not starting. You want to avoid those unnecessary battery repairs or replacements as long as possible, and luckily for you, cleaning the terminals is easy.

1. Make sure the car is turned off before starting.
2. Loosen the negative cable clamp, and then do the same for the positive cable.
3. Inspect the battery to see if there are leaks. If there is leaking acid, it's time to replace the battery immediately.
4. Using safety goggles and gloves, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with some hot water. Stir the solution to create a paste, then use a toothbrush and apply some of the paste to it.
5. Scrub around each terminal. You'll hear a sizzling noise as the baking soda reacts to the corroded terminals.
6. When done, rinse down the clamps and terminals with a spray bottle filled with water, and dry each terminal and clamp with a dry, soft cloth.
7. Reattach the clamp to the positive terminal, then the negative one.
8. Replace the terminal covers and close the hood. You're all done!

Testing Car Battery Voltage

Open the hood to find the battery, checking the owner's manual if you're unsure of where to look. Connect the positive lead to the positive terminal of the battery. Both should have a + symbol on them. Do the same thing for the negative terminal. These should have a - symbol on them. The reading on the voltmeter should be around 12.45 volts, but not more than 12.7 volts. If the reading is well below this range, it might be time to replace the battery.nother maintenance item you can take care of at home is testing your car battery voltage. You might be wondering how to test a car battery, though. You'll need a digital voltmeter, which can be found at any local auto parts store.

Schedule Service Today!

There are a few easy ways to clean your car battery terminal at home, and this article provides some ways to do so. If you have any questions about cleaning it, or you've looked at the battery and think it's time for a new one, schedule service at Audi North Miami today.

We look forward to serving drivers in Miami, Miami Beach, and Hollywood, and we'll keep your car healthy and road-ready at all times.