Take care of those corroded Battery Terminals!

[BigPapa]

When starting my truck over the past few months, the starter had been getting slower and slower, and I just I figured my starter was going to need to be replaced soon. For some reason, and I think it has something to do with my 12-valve conversion, my heater grids cycle all the time no matter what the ambient temp is, so I disconnect them in warmer weather. Just too lazy to put them on a switch, I guess.

Anyway, since replacing my batteries in July '17, my terminals will severely corrode over several weeks time. I initially took them apart and cleaned them but the last time I noticed the terminals were really looking bad from all the disassembly so I've just let them go. I've tried several products trying to stop the corrosion to no avail.

Last week was the first time it got into the 20's here so I reconnected my heater grids. That morning I had to jump my truck off so I decided to replace the terminals with some of the mil-spec terminals. After replacing the terminals and cleaning everything good, my starter now whips over like it did when it was new! Where the terminals contact the battery posts had a hard layer of corrosion built up between the terminal and post to the point where they were only contacting in a small area. I don't understand how it builds up where you would think there isn't enough room.

Anyway, don't be like me and wait until it's too late to do something about them.

 

[MLee]

They should be cleaned twice a year. Even the non electrical operated one's, 12 valves need a good charge to lift the fuel solenoid and hold it up. I just found this out my self and I clean my batteries twice a year. But control of the acid build up is my problem. I also found than the BUBLY sparkling water drink removes this acid build up very quick and good most of the time. You have heard of using COKE, well this is another choice.

 

[DavidC]

Yes you have to clean the complete tops of the batteries so the + and - posts cannot conduct between them. If not clean you can get current flow through that path which will kill the charge plus it does not help the alternator.

 

[Joe Mc]

For SURE what David said!!!

I've had good results with coating the terminals (everywhere!) with:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Gardner-Be...MIzc2FlKrZ5QIVA6_ICh31egc1EAQYAiABEgJRrfD_BwE
and/or
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...MI99bcxqrZ5QIVEeDICh2JcQy9EAQYASABEgL8R_D_BwE

After years of disconnecting and re-connecting my batteries the ends became "past-it" and instead of buying new cables $$$$ or god forbid trying those wimpy "temporary" termination ends, I got 4 of these at Geno's
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/ubt-840p/battery-cable-and-components

When I say "I coated the terminals "everywhere", I schmutzed that s**t everywhere I could and "then" installed them.

Should you need new terminal ends, I highly recommend the ones I got from Geno's.
Tip: Slice the old terminals where the wire(s) go into them (I got "caveman" and used a cold chisel to get started then switched to a cut off wheel), remove as much of the old terminal ends as you can, then heat the old end remnants (I used a Map Gas torch = carefully, that melting tin/lead is friggin` hot!!) leaving the wires "tined", schmutz the wires, the cable end holes, then insert into the "Geno's cable ends" and tighten the set screws. I swear these things are awesome and very easy to remove and re-install on your batteries with about ½ turn of the main clamp set screw. Really!