Corrosion on Battery Terminals – Introduction and Cause

Proper battery maintenance is necessary if you want to get the best from your car. However, many car owners will just install the battery and forget about it. Soon, you will realize that the battery is not performing as efficiently as it used to when you first installed it.

One of the main causes of such problems is corrosion. The battery terminals begin to corrode, preventing proper flow of electric current through it.

So, what does corrosion on car batteries mean? What are the symptoms, and how do you clean them off? These are some of the most important questions every car owner must ask themselves.

Luckily, we have prepared this guide specifically for that. We will help you deal with the issue efficiently and continue enjoying full energy from the battery.

Read on.

Corrosion on Battery Terminals Symptoms

Before we look at the symptoms of corrosion, let's talk about what corrosion is. Many people will confuse it with sulfation, which can cause them to take the wrong action.

Even though the two processes are related, they have distinct differences. They produce similar discharge and have the same effect on your care.

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Corrosion comes up when the car battery acid reacts with the metal terminals. It appears as brown, white or blue/green discharge on the terminals. In case you saw something like that and were wondering what it meant, know that your battery terminals are corroding.

On the other hand, sulfation happens when the lead sulfate crystals build up on the terminals when the battery is not maintaining a charge. You can recognize it from its grey color.

It's crucial to understand these differences. Corrosion is easy to remove and might mean your car is still in good condition. Sulfation could mean more serious damage, and you will probably have to replace the battery.

Here are the symptoms of battery corrosion:

Visible Corrosion

The most obvious sign of a corroded battery terminal is the presence of the physical corrosion. You can see it from the colors described above. If the discharge is on both terminals, you will need to clean it off immediately once identified.

Problems Starting the Vehicle

Your car battery plays the most crucial role in starting the engine. But if you notice problem starting the vehicle, something like low cranking, it could mean something is wrong with the battery. Corrupting on the terminal interferes with the connection, and the starter may not get the right electrical current to start. Corrosion is a poor conductor, and so any terminal covered in it becomes a poor conductor too. Clean it off and you will realize your car starting normally.

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Loss of Electrical Current

Imagine driving your car on the highway, and then it loses all the electrical current. All your car's electrical components go off, including the lights. Such things can happen if the battery has severely corroded terminals that have blocked electrical current. At this point, nothing can be done to repair the terminals but a complete replacement.

Dimming Lights

Try switching on your headlights and consider how powerful the performance is. Normally, your car should have far-reaching lights. You may have noticed this when the battery was still new. But when they begin to dim without any reason, it could be that there is an issue with the batteries. If it's not corrosion, it might be a loose connection.

The Vehicle Refuses to Start

As stated above, the battery is designed to start the car's engine. It needs to have enough cranking current for this to happen. When you get into your car in the morning, and it doesn't seem to start, your battery has a problem. If you are sure, the battery is still in great condition, check for corrosion on the terminals and clean it off immediately.

What Cause Corrosion on Battery Terminals?

Battery terminals are simple and cheap components. But they play a very crucial role in the general performance of your vehicle. You need to have them checked regularly, ensuring they are always clean to allow for proper current flow.

Corrosion can make the terminals uses. When it gets to the worst level that your vehicle loses electrical current, replacing it will be more convenient.

Causes

Battery terminals are made from metal. All metals are vulnerable to corrosion, and the one in your car battery is no exception. If anything, this is the part of the car that is more inclined to corrode. Most car electrical problems happen because there is corrosion on the terminals.

Batteries store and produce electrical current through a series of chemical reactions. These reactions convert sulphuric acid into bursts of electrical energy that come out through the terminals, powering your engine and other electrical components of your car. Once the engine is on, the alternator becomes the power source, powering the engine and charging the battery.

Corrosion can occur by:

Emission of electrolyte or electrolyte vapor. Hydrogen gas released from the battery can react with battery acid on the terminals to condense, creating corrosion.

The reaction between the battery terminal posts and the cables are different metals.

Sulfation. We have already discussed what this means.

Battery age, over- or under-charging and exposure to certain elements like moisture. These can cause corrosion much faster.

Modern dry batteries don't have leakage issues, so they don't experience too much corrosion. However, sulfation is still inevitable. The only way to protect your battery is through regular maintenance.

What Eats Corrosion on Battery Terminals?

When you notice corrosion on your car battery, you need to clean it off as soon as possible. Luckily, this is easy and something you can do at home. The best way to clean corrosion is neutralizing it.

Apply a paste of baking soda and water to clear it off. Or you can use a cleaning spray to neutralize it before gently scrubbing it off.

Battery maintenance is crucial in preventing corrosion. Understand that overcharging or undercharging it will bring up the problem. You can coat the terminals using petroleum jelly or battery grease, and your battery will be safe. Otherwise, cleaning it off as soon as you notice it helps a lot.