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How to clean corrosion on your car's battery terminals and wires

Cleaning the battery terminals and wires is actually a quick and simple procedure. First you will need to get some tools of course.

1. One can of Coke-A-Cola.
2. 2 small containers.
3. A towel with no oil residue or anything flammable on it just to be safe.
4. A terminal cleaning tool, or steel brush or sandpaper.
5. I also recommend a wrench with a rounded end not the open end. Sometimes the terminals have been removed so many times the nut is partially stripped. An open-end wrench would only slip off the nut and then your arguing with an inanimate object and calling it names that would hurt convicts feelings.

Once you find the wrench that fits, usually 1/2 inch, use it to remove the nut and take the terminal wires off the battery. Begin by removing the negative terminal wire first. This is a crucial step to remove and replace your terminal wires in order to avoid battery explosion, and sparks from contact while removing the positive terminal. Make sure while removing the positive terminal wire you DO NOT let the wrench touch anything metal on the car. If for some reason the negative terminal wire accidentally touches the negative terminal on the battery during the removal of the positive terminal wire it could be very dangerous. If that would happen, and you hit a metal piece of the car while removing the positive terminal wire, it could be a shocking experience. Sparks will fly and you will probably jump and hit your head on the hood of the vehicle. If you are not very good remembering things please mark your wires with a plus and a minus symbol using a piece of tape that will not fall off during the process. If you look on your battery there is a plus and a minus sign by each terminal so you can decipher which is which. The plus sign is for the positive terminal wire. The minus sign is for the negative or ground terminal wire.

Once removed Use the terminal cleaning tool to clean some of the acidic corrosion off the terminals. If you do not want to buy one and do not have one, a steel brush would work sufficiently enough. A piece of sandpaper will work well also. If you do not have a steel brush or sandpaper you are up a creek, in a sinking boat, without a paddle. Just kidding, you can also use a screwdriver or knife to scrape the acidic corrosion off, but that is not the best way to do it. Make sure to get as much of the corrosion off the terminals and wires as possible.

You can use your terminal cleaning tool and clean the terminals on the battery itself while


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How to clean corrosion on your car's battery terminals and wires

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