Cleaning battery terminal question

[txt990]

Just needed to clean the battery terminal as there is a lot of the acid build up on the negative terminal. After removing the terminals and cleaning them, and putting them back on, will I need any radio code as things get reset?

2016 CX-5 Sport

 

[Mazdiod2]

You might have to reset the driver's side auto-window up/down function.

 

[RedBaron]

Just needed to clean the battery terminal as there is a lot of the acid build up on the negative terminal.

That's a sign that the battery is aging. You should replace it sooner rather than later as a bad battery causes all sorts of weird problems with the cars and can leave you stranded.

 

[txt990]

That's a sign that the battery is aging. You should replace it sooner rather than later as a bad battery causes all sorts of weird problems with the cars and can leave you stranded.

So, it a Walmart Evermax battery about two years in service now. I have another one year left on the warranty. So, just called up the Walmart service center, and they said that they will replace the battery under warranty.

 

[shooter357]

You will have to reset your radio stations but nothing else. I have a tool for this job and did mine not long ago. Put some grease on the negative terminal before you connect the terminal and you won't have this problem again. Silicone grease if you have it.

 

[Ladd]

Don't you mean dielectric grease on the terminals prior to re-attaching the clamps?

 

[ADS-B]

Don't you mean dielectric grease on the terminals prior to re-attaching the clamps?

If you apply dielectric grease on the terminals before attaching the cables, you are making a mistake. The dielectric grease it's an insulator and it will prevent contact between the battery and the cables. If anything, you should apply the dielectric after you connect the cables.

 

[Ladd]

Thanks for letting me know! I had always thought that dielectric grease was conductive.

 

[cz5gt]

No grease for the inside of the terminals which touch the battery posts.
As said above you can encapsulate the outside but usually not needed.

 

[shooter357]

I always apply some silicon grease to my battery posts or the inside of the clamps before I attach them. I've never had any problem because as tight as the connections are they displace enough grease to make good connections.

 

[Mazdiod2]

A little squirt of Windex, which has a lot of ammonia, should neutralize the acid if there is any on the cable ends.

 

[N7turbo]

A little squirt of Windex, which has a lot of ammonia, should neutralize the acid if there is any on the cable ends.

Neat tip, never heard that. Had to look up the pH value of ammonia, supposedly 10-13 depending on the purity. But on looking up the concentration of ammonia in Windex, I am seeing 5-10% come up. That is not enough to significantly raise the pH of the solution in total.

My other concern is that ammonia leaves residue behind, so make sure to clean it off.