How to Remove Corrosion From a Battery Wire
Left untreated, battery connectors and the wires attached to them will begin to show signs of corrosion. This corrosion comes in the form of either a green or white powder. Heavily corroded connections will cause the battery to act like it is dead. It may also create deterioration to the wires themselves. The copper wires inside the cables can become so corroded, that they will eventually harden and break. Removing the corrosion in a timely manner is highly recommended so as not to cause an expensive cable replacement.
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Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Rubber gloves
- ½ - inch box-end wrench
- 7/16-inch box-end wrench
- Steel wire brush
- Baking soda
- Water
- Cup
- Old toothbrush
Instructions
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1
Use the correct personal safety equipment, such as safety glasses and a pair of rubber gloves. The corrosion on the battery posts can be extremely irritating to eyes and bare skin.
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2
Remove the negative (-) battery connector from the top post of the battery. Loosen the nut at the end of the post bolt connector using the ½-inch box-end wrench. Remove the positive (+) battery connector. Be sure to remove the negative battery connector first.
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3
Loosen the negative cable connector to the black battery cable using the 7/16-inch box-end wrench. Pull the wire from the cable connector. Clean only one wire at a time so you do not mix the wires up with the connectors. It is a good practice to clean the negative cable first then the positive.
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4
Use the steel wire brush and clean the copper wire strands of the cable. Perform the same action to the cable connector and to the battery post.
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5
Mix a couple of heaping tablespoons of baking soda into one cup of water. Use the old toothbrush and scrub the battery post, the cable connector and the bare copper wires of the cable with the solution. Allow the mixture to set on the connectors for approximately five minutes or until the fizzing stops. Rinse the areas with clean water.
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6
Apply a thin layer of grease to the newly cleaned parts. Reassemble the connector in the reverse order that you took them apart. Reconnect the negative battery connector back on to the negative battery post.
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7
Perform the same process to the positive connector and battery terminal. Remember it is important to only clean the negative post and connection first, then reattach it to the battery. The entire time leaving the positive connection free and unconnected.
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Tips & Warnings
The above described method can be used on any wire that shows signs of battery corrosion.
Battery acid will eat through clothing if left untreated. Flush all areas with plenty of clean water.
Never expose a battery to open flames or heavy sparks. Batteries emit flammable gas when charging or when under heavy use.
