How to Check Terminals in Your Car

Properly maintaining your vehicle is important to its durability and function. Performing most of the maintenance yourself will save you time, money and the hassle of leaving your car with a mechanic. Winterizing your vehicle is extremely important, and checking your battery terminals should be a part of this process.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Turn your car off and allow it to cool completely before checking the battery terminals. This may seem obvious, but there are many injuries a year from do-it-yourself home mechanics getting burned.

2. Locate the battery terminals. There are two posts that stick up from the battery. They are the metal pieces that are clamped around the posts and held there by a screw and nut. Take a visual once over and notice if there is excessive corrosion or damage to the terminal.

3. Use a wrench to remove the nut and remove the battery terminals. Look on the inside of the terminal and check for excessive corrosion, damage, cracking or pitting. If there is excessive damage, you should replace the terminals. If there isn't, you can clean them. It is important to keep them clean, or they could fail when you need the car to start.

4. Visit your local auto parts store for a terminal cleaner or new terminals. The preferred terminals, used by most mechanics when replacing battery terminals, are solid lead. These are preferred because they resist corrosion and are more heavy duty than the stainless steel terminals.