How to Remove Car Battery Corrosion

When you know how to clean car battery corrosion, you can protect your vehicle’s electrical system and ensure that your battery continues to perform as intended. However, it’s important to note from the outset that working with a high-powered component like a car battery requires caution. Although our service team would be happy to help, we’ve also put together a step-by-step guide, so you can learn how to remove corrosion from a car battery the right way.

How to Check for Car Battery Corrosion

Many Rye-area drivers only think to check for car battery corrosion when they’ve noticed a problem with their electrical system. Whether you’re being proactive or you’re trying to solve an issue, the process of checking for corrosion is the same:

• Wait at least 30 minutes from the time when you shut your vehicle off, and pop the hood.
• Locate the battery, and identify the terminals.
• If one or both terminals are coated in white, or in a combination of white, green, blue, or teal residue, you’re dealing with battery corrosion.
• Take note of any rust on your battery cables as well.

If you need to clean your terminals, keep in mind that disconnecting your battery cables may reset your check engine light or other electronic systems.

What Causes Car Battery Corrosion?

Why do car batteries corrode? Although this issue can cause problems if left untreated, car battery corrosion is a natural byproduct of your battery’s day-to-day operations. The battery continually heats up and cools down as you drive around Stamford and New Canaan, releasing hydrogen gas as part of the ventilation process.  So, what causes car battery corrosion? When the hydrogen gases produced by your battery come into contact with the surrounding material, the electric charge on the terminals can cause a reaction that leads to corrosion. If your battery seems especially corroded, there may be a leak at the point where the battery meets the casing.

Although hydrogen gas expulsion is the most common cause of normal car battery corrosion, excessive corrosion can also be due to the following factors:

• Leaking electrolyte solution after battery movement or damage
• Overfilled/overcharged car battery
• Sulfuric gases leaking from battery, creating copper sulfate on terminals

What Does Corrosion on a Car Battery Mean?

All car batteries will corrode with time, but what does corrosion on a car battery mean in practice? Excessive corrosion could point to one of the aforementioned battery issues, but it’s even more important to note that car battery corrosion can prevent your car from starting in some circumstances!

If the corrosion becomes so significant that the cables no longer have a secure connection with the battery terminals, your car won’t be able to receive the electric charge that it needs to start the engine. This problem mimics the appearance of a dead battery, but you’ll want to check under the hood before you call roadside assistance or ask another driver to give you a jump start. Removing the car battery corrosion and thoroughly cleaning the terminals could solve your problem!

How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion

Learning how to clean car battery corrosion isn’t particularly difficult, but failing to work carefully can be dangerous. Make sure to wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator when you’re working around battery acid, rust, and electric currents. Even if your vehicle is off and cool, the connected terminals will still carry a charge. With these safety tips in mind, take these steps to remove corrosion from a car battery:

1. Purchase a professional battery cleaner at our Greenwich parts department, or gather up baking soda and water. You’ll also need a wire brush or a scrub sponge.
2. With the professional cleaner, spray the terminals and then clean the affected area with a wire brush.
3. If you’re using a DIY solution, pour a small amount of baking soda directly on the terminal, then add water. Dry the area with a paper towel, and remove whatever remains with a scrub sponge.

Whether you’ve just cleaned your battery or you’re installing a new one, it’s a good idea to spray a battery protector on the terminal or apply an anti-corrosion gel.

Schedule Your Battery Service at Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich!

If you’ve determined that it’s time to pick up a replacement car battery, visit our Greenwich parts department to pick up a product designed specifically for your Mercedes-Benz. We’d be happy to take care of installation in-store, but even if you decide to replace the battery at home, make sure to check out our Mercedes-Benz service and parts specials before you stop in.