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Q&A for How to Clean Battery Corrosion and Build Up
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QuestionDoes baking soda clean battery residue?Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere.Yes, it does. Lightly brush a mixture of warm water and baking soda on the battery terminals, but don't pour it onto the battery.
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QuestionHow do you safely clean battery residue?Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere.Rubber gloves and safety glasses are must-haves before you start cleaning your battery.
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QuestionHow do I clean battery acid off of my trunk?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerMove the car to a well-ventilated area and put on some safety gloves to protect your hands. Coat the spill liberally with baking soda or a commercial battery acid neutralizer and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Next, use a carpet cleaner or steam cleaner to clean up the baking soda and neutralized acid. Leave your trunk open so the upholstery can air dry.
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QuestionHow do you stop battery corrosion?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can keep battery terminals from corroding by applying a little petroleum jelly or dielectric (silicone-based) grease on the terminals. You can also protect car battery terminals with anti-corrosion washers, which you can pick up at most auto parts stores.
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QuestionDoes Coke get rid of battery corrosion?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, Coca Cola will dissolve away the corrosion on your car battery terminals. Just pour it over the battery and allow it to sit for a few minutes. You may not even need to scrub the terminals afterwards!
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QuestionIs corrosion a sign of a bad battery?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt can be. If new corrosion continues to form after you’ve cleaned off your battery, it might be time to get a new one.
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QuestionWhat does the water do to the baking soda?Community AnswerIt dissolves it. There is no chemical reaction whatsoever. However, the baking soda needs to be in a liquid to apply well.
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QuestionCould I use alcohol instead of vinegar?Community AnswerYes, high percentage isopropyl alcohol (>90%) is an excellent solvent for electronic devices, as it evaporates quickly and doesn't leave a residue that can cause shorting.
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QuestionWhat happens if I mistakenly put 1/4 cup of vinegar into a golf cart battery?Community AnswerYou'll probably have to buy a new battery.
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QuestionIf no baking soda is available, is there an alternative product I can use?Community AnswerYou could use a tiny amount of toothpaste (a dab about 1/4 the size of a pea) on a toothbrush. Add water on the toothbrush and brush until all is removed.
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QuestionCan battery corrosion cause strange odors inside my car?Tony SleepCommunity AnswerIf by "strange odors," you mean an odor of bad eggs, then stop driving. This isn't caused by corrosion, but by the car battery boiling dry. Unless it's physically damaged (i.e. a hole or crack in the battery case), this indicates a serious charging fault, typically a regulator and/or rectifier failure. This creates excess voltage to boil off the electrolyte. There is a danger of fire and the hydrogen sulfide is poisonous to inhale. The over-voltage can also destroy the vehicle electronics. Do not just top up the battery with distilled water; the electrolyte is strong sulfuric acid, and adding water is dangerous. A lot of heat is evolved and water can explosively boil, spraying acid on you.
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QuestionCan we use baking powder instead of baking soda?Community AnswerNO! Baking powder and baking soda are commonly thought of as the same thing, but they are far from it. Your battery will leak even more and could explode if you use baking powder instead of baking soda.
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QuestionMy battery electrolyte is almost dry. Should I top up with battery water or diluted acid to keep my battery alive?Community AnswerUse distilled water. Acid does not evaporate, so by restoring the water level, the acid ratio should be restored.
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QuestionCan I just rinse my crusty AA battery off with water?DonaganTop AnswererThat probably won't remove the rust. It would be better to use fine sandpaper on the terminals.
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