Battery Corrosion

Well, I was looking under the hood yesterday checking some things and noticed a ton of corrosion on my positive battery terminal. I got some battery cleaner and decided this morning I would remove the battery and clean the connectors good. The negative side was fine, came right out. As i started trying to clean the terminal on the positive side to remove it, I noticed it was worse than I thought.

My positive terminal evidently has been leaking enough where the post was starting to loosen out of the battery Itself. It corroded enough to where it started eating away at the terminal attachment from the truck, so part of it is gone, and the bolt going through keeping it tight has withered away as well, where i can’t hold it to loosen it up very easily.

this battery was purchased from Firestone in May 2018.

 

Add some of these pads to the replacement battery.

 

Interstate has a 5 year prorated warranty on their batteries. You will need to replace the terminal end as well. Once it has gotten corrosion etching on it, it will not stop no matter what you clean it with. The terminal is about $25 through the dealer or you can get a universal one at AutoZone for about $6.00. I went through this a couple of years ago. Mine was so bad you couldn't even see the terminal.

 

oh whoa..that usually does not happen overnight though always keep an eye on the battery terminals when opening the hood.
you can replace the + cable.

 

I lather some dielectric grease on the terminals time to time.

 

As part of the battery/terminal repair, you should check out your charging system in the process. One of those pics (last one in your post) shows the vent cover wet with acid, which happens when the acid boils during overcharging. Acid may be leaking from the terminal post as well, but acid traveling from the post/battery surface to the top of the vent cover seems unlikely imo.

 

i think some of that was overspray with my cleaning stuff, it wasn’t wet before. My needle inside for the charging has been staying in the middle?

 

should I look at replacing the entire positive cable as well? I’m worried about the corrosion on the top as well, which has my amp connected along with the positive cable.

 

You could if you wanted to. I don't know what the cable cost is or what Is involved with changing the cable on our trucks. I wonder how far the corrosion worked down the cable. Its hard to tell unless you pull the insulation back.

 

Keep it simple before you dive into the complex.

Clean the terminal and put some dielectric grease on it.

Check it periodically.

No need now to completely re-wire the truck.

 

x2

 

Yes, cable needs replaced . These are sealed cables, and will corrode inside.

 

Coke is great at removing that crap. I use Amsoil metal protector on the terminals because it dries to the touch. Works great and never have an issue.

 

A little baking soda and water will clean it pretty good too , the baking soda neutralizes the acid .

 

After cleaning I use this stuff. Spray it on the bracket, exposed wires and terminals. CRC 05046 Battery Terminal Protector - 7.5 Wt Oz.

$14 CRC 05046 Battery Terminal Protector - 7.5 Wt Oz.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CIPUNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GFYGFbVRN2P3J