What causes corrosion on car battery terminals?
Corrosion buildup on car battery terminals is caused by a chemical reaction between battery acid and the metal terminals, compounded by environmental factors such as moisture and heat. Recognizing signs of terminal corrosion, such as a powdery white or bluish residue, is crucial in addressing potential issues with your vehicle’s electrical system.
Once corrosion develops, you’ll want to clean the battery terminals to prevent damage to the terminal connector and to ensure the health of your car’s electrical system. A poor battery connection can cause failure to start and all sorts of low voltage sensor communication issues.
Corrosion is often caused by a crack in the plastic battery housing, located near the terminal connection.
Inspect the battery for cracks
A crack in the plastic housing allows battery acid vapors to escape and contact the battery terminal, causing the corrosion.
If you find a crack in the housing, you’ll need to replace the car battery. See our article on tips for selecting the correct battery for your vehicle:
Once corrosion occurs, you may have to replace the battery terminal connector.
Replacement Battery Terminal Connectors
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We hope you found this information helpful
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