The cost of filling up at the gas pumps is finally heading in the right direct with gasoline prices falling but the cost of car maintenance is rising higher and higher. For example. Let us say that you have a 1990 Ford Ranger and you take in to have new sparkplugs, sparkplug wires, and an air filter element installed; the cost of the parts would be $91.68, but your total bill would be $250.30!
This was for a routine service procedure that a moderately skilled DIY mechanic could have done him/herself and saved $158.62 and that is an amount worth the time and effort involved in doing the job yourself. Cleaning a battery takes 15 - 20 minutes, so you save yourself $20 - $30 by doing it yourself.
Caution
A word of caution is in order before we go any further. Automobile batteries are lead-acid storage batteries that contain an electrolyte consisting of diluted Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4). Sulphuric Acid, even in its diluted state can damage the finish of your car, burn holes in your clothes, burn your skin, and even blind you if it gets in your eyes. You should always wear eye protection (a full-face shield or goggles) and rubber gloves when cleaning a battery.
Tools and supplies you will need
- Face shield/safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Shop rags
- Baking soda
- Petroleum jelly
- Can of WD4o
- Large, flat-blade screwdriver
- Battery post/cable clamp cleaner
- Treated felt washers
- Battery clamp puller
- Combination (open end/box) wrenches
All of these tools can be purchased at AutoZone, Advanced Auto, or some other auto parts retailer. When buying tools buy the highest quality tools that your budget will allow because a quality tool with proper care will last you a lifetime.
All of today’s batteries are sealed batteries so there is no need to check the electrolyte level in the cells. If you happen to have the exception to that rule, remove the cell caps and check to see if the electrolyte covers the plates, if it doe not, add distilled water until the plates are covered. Another word of caution is due here, if your battery does have vented, removable cell caps, make sure that none of the baking soda solution enters the cells because it will destroy the electrolyte.
Many people will tell you that it really is not necessary to remove the battery cables from the battery posts when cleaning a battery but removing them is essential to doing a thorough job. Here is why, corrosion can and does build up between the clamp and the battery post causing a high-resistance to the flow of current. This resistance causes a voltage drop between the post and the cable clamp. In simple language, what this means is that your starter motor is not going to get all the voltage and current that it needs to start your car on a cold morning.
Directions
- Disconnect the batter cables. Always remove the negative, or ground cable first. This is an important safety precaution because if you attempted to remove the positive cable first and your wrench accidentally struck metal, the battery could explode in your face. When reconnecting your battery, reverse the procedure connecting the positive cable first, then the negative.
- After loosening the battery clamp bolts, insert the screwdriver in the gap and twist. If the clamps still refuse to slip off the post, use the battery clamp puller. Never try to pry up with the screwdriver because you can damage the battery.
- Once you have removed the battery cables from the battery, remove the battery hold down strap and lift the battery from the car’s battery box being careful not to touch the fender in the process. If the nuts holding the battery hold down strap in place are corroded or rusted, spray them with a generous amount of WD40 and let them soak for a few minutes before attempting to remove them to avoid breaking them off.
- Once the battery is out of the car, inspect the case for cracks and/or posts that are loose. If the case shows evidence of cracking and/or the posts show evidence of coming loose, replace the battery.
- Make a paste out of the baking soda and water then spread this paste over, around the battery posts, and on the battery cable ends. Let this paste set for a few minutes and then rinse it off with plenty of water. This should remove the majority of the corrosion. If box is corroded, use the baking soda paste on that also before reinstalling the battery.
- Use the battery cleaner brushes to buff the outside of the battery posts and the inside of the battery cable clamps.
- Reinstall the cleaned battery in the battery holder and reinstall the battery hold down strap.
- Install the specially treated red felt washer over the positive post and the green felt washer over the negative post.
- Replace and tighten down the positive cable clamp.
- Replace and tighten down the negative cable clamp.
- Coat both clamps and exposed parts of the battery post with a generous coating of petroleum jelly, this will retard future corrosion build up.
- Clean up and store your newly acquired tools in a safe place so they will be ready when your friends ask you to service their batteries.
Now, congratulate yourself on saving a lot of money and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
