One battery terminal keeps getting this greenish corrosion (like you would see on copper) and then if the car isn't driven for a week the battery will start it but weakly. The battery is not really old either. I can't tell you which terminal is corroding as it is not my car and the guy does not remember, but it is only one of the terminals. Is there a simple fix like clean everything off with baking soda and then grease the one terminal?
Battery Problem
- Thread starter TallPaul
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Take both terminals off, clean the posts on the batteries and the terminals really well. A little bit of fine-grit sand paper or emery-cloth works well if you don't have the actual tool.
Put back together as tight as possible.
Spray the terminals with a good quality penetrating fluid (NOT WD-40).
Then coat the terminals and exposed part of the posts in Vaseline or some other Petroleum Jelly or Wheel bearing grease and you won't have the problem reappear. (Make sure to use a generous amount)
I would guarantee that this would fix your problem!
Put back together as tight as possible.
Spray the terminals with a good quality penetrating fluid (NOT WD-40).
Then coat the terminals and exposed part of the posts in Vaseline or some other Petroleum Jelly or Wheel bearing grease and you won't have the problem reappear. (Make sure to use a generous amount)
I would guarantee that this would fix your problem!
that should certainly take care of the corrosion - but there appears to be something pulling power from the battery constantly - as it should hold a charge for more than a week. the easiest way to check for power draw is with an amp meter - placing it inline to measure the current draw. anything more than around 10-20 ma is suspect. if there is a larger draw, start pulling fuses until the draw drops. that fuse will identify the circuit that is pulling the power
Oops, I missed the draining part. I only saw the corrosion. Sorry wasn't 1 cup of coffee in yet.
Thanks, easiest would be to do teh cleanup and treatment StevieC suggested and then see if the draining continues. I suspect the corrosion may have created a path across the battery case for current leakage. If it still drains after it's cleaned up, then he can whip out the multimeter.
An additional bit of info he just told me is that the batter terminal clamp is so corroded that it doesn't fit on there super tight. It's snug, but can be twisted off by hand.
I suspect the loose connection is helping generate the corrosion.
An additional bit of info he just told me is that the batter terminal clamp is so corroded that it doesn't fit on there super tight. It's snug, but can be twisted off by hand.
I suspect the loose connection is helping generate the corrosion.
Then it might be best to replace both battery terminals. Clean the terminals and use either Vaseline or Napa makes and anti-corrosion spray you can put on the battery terminals and the battery cable ends to help keep corrosion from forming. Usually if the terminals are corroded as badly as you describe, the battery cable itself also has a lot of green corrosion in its strands. It would be worth it to remove an inch or so of insulation and check the condition of the copper in the cable ends too.
You are very likely right, if the battery terminals are in that bad of a shape, correcting them may also correct the battery charging problem too.
You are very likely right, if the battery terminals are in that bad of a shape, correcting them may also correct the battery charging problem too.
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