Build-up on battery

[97splorer]

I noticed that the possitive terminal on my battery has some greenish build-up on it. It has never done it before, is there a problem or should I clean it off and forget about it?

 

[MustangShane]

I'd probably do just that clean it and forget it. I've seen dealerships spray white lithium grease on terminals. It might help... you never know.

 

[Robb]

You can buy some "battery terminal spray" from auto stores that is made to prevent that. I usually just put a little grease on them.

 

[Alec]

Lead acid batteries cause corrosion. Too much and you can have an explosion at worst, or no problems at best. Keep tabs on it and clean it when you can, as too much can cause your wires to corrode.

Grease helps as has been said, also tape a penny or 2 between the terminals as that will attract some of the corrosion from the terminals and wires.

 

[sk1er17]

coca cola works wonders in the cleaning process

and if you go to k-mart for like $5 you can get new terminal leads that come with a special anti-corrosion pad that goes on first,,, the thing works wonders.

 

[97splorer]

I cleaned it off and put some grease on it, thanks for the tips.

 

[huskyfan23]

Baking soda and water works wonders for removing the corrosion. After I had a big buildup I cleaned it all up and used some grease, been fine for 3 years so far.

 

[Nicaraguense]

97 model

One thing though, it's a 97 model, this is 2003. If that thing is a Motorcraft (especially if you KNOW for a fact it is the origional) I'd say it is about to go. For the most part, I don't see any battery that lasts more than 5 years. Even the high dollar aftermarket Gold sieres ones. I dunno about the optimas

 

[sk1er17]

yea i guess i shoulda mentioned this:
I have a 98 and had my original battery in it. I was getting a lot of corrosion and just kept cleaning it and cleaning it. I just went to install an apten chip and i broke my terminal clamp because there was so much corrosion on it, so thats when i went to k-mart and got those corrosion blockers. I never had a problem starting my car or anything but the next day at work i put my battery on a tester for the hell of it and it came back as "bad battery" so i changed it.. . this was all of a week or two ago.

moral of the story- you may have a bad battery and not know it. you're car can still start and work fine but its a ticking time bomb so get it checked out if its the original. (usualy the battery tester says "charge and retest" when people kill their batteries or have problems... mine just said plain out "bad battery", but there were no warning signs, just my gut feeling)