Some vehicle maintenance tasks can be daunting. For instance, few people will perform a water pump replacement at home. But doing some basic battery maintenance is something anyone can do. If you know which end of a screwdriver to hold, you can inspect your battery.
A few minutes of preventative battery maintenance can save you time, money, and headaches.
Most vehicles have their 12 V battery located in the engine bay. Typically set on either side of the engine to allow easy access from the sides, it should be quick to find when you open the hood. Some manufacturers position batteries in the trunk for improved weight distribution.
It’s also possible for the 12 V battery to be located under the second-row seat. In these rare cases, it might be safer to have a specialized shop carry out the work.
Once the battery is located, do a quick visual inspection to check for leaks or cracks. Should you find any, replacing the battery with a NAPA Powerstart battery will ensure that the vehicle starts up safely all year long.
Whether replacing or performing maintenance on the battery, you will need to disconnect the terminals. Wearing safety glasses and gloves, use a ratchet, socket, or wrench to disconnect the positive side first. Be careful not bridge the terminals with your tool, as sparks will fly. Once this is done, position the cable away from the battery. Next, remove the negative terminal with the same amount of care.
Batteries can and do get dirty. Corrosion can also create buildup around the terminals. Cleaning these areas is an easy job that’s well worth a few minutes of your time. All you need is baking soda and water to remove corrosion and dirt on and around the terminals on a sealed battery. If the battery has caps, you’ll want to clean the surface beneath them with a scraper first to ensure the seal is tight. You can lift the caps gently with a flat screwdriver. Then, using the baking soda and water mixture, wet a cloth and rub the top of the battery until clean.
You can also use a battery terminal cleaner, such as Gunk’s 2-in-1 cleaner and protector. Simply follow the product instructions for the best results.
With both terminal clamps removed from the battery, now is the time to clean them and the terminal posts. This 3-way battery terminal cleaner is the ideal all-in-one tool for removing power-robbing deposits from the clamps and terminals. Use the straight brush to scrub the inside of the clamps and the cylindrical brush to clean the terminals.
Once everything is clean and reconnected, the final step is to protect the battery and connectors. A product like Gumout Wire Dryer will weatherproof the terminals and slow corrosion considerably.
