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Clean Your Battery Cables!!

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Old 01-07-2007, 02:26 AM
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Default Clean Your Battery Cables!!

I was coming home the other night and the car died. It died like someone opened the hood and physically removed the battery. I was just turning into my apartment and still rolling.

I guess it could not have happened anywhere better Maybe the hobby shop?

Any way’*, mine looked like azz...big-time!

As a side note, there are three (3) cables all together that connect to the positive terminal. They are 1. Starter (biggest cable) 2. Power distribution and 3. Alternator The Starter and Alternator cables and bound together in one connector while the power distribution is by itself. This answers the question that if the alt is good, why does the car die if the terminal is loose or corroded but the car is running when it happens, such as my case.

Anywho, here are some before and after pics:


Dirty...
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Boosty, please don't shhot me..............
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Took a wire brush to the connectors and a wirewheel to the lugs......

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The negative cable and boot were in very nice shape, but I wire brushed it anyway'*. This was VERY simple to do and if I did not BS with everyone in the shop, under 15 mins of work

GET IT DONE!!!
Old 01-07-2007, 02:31 AM
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Nice work, and outstanding advice!
Old 01-07-2007, 02:35 AM
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i see you have the Billboost work gloves on
Old 01-07-2007, 02:35 AM
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is there any sort of good solvent to soak them in? and umm, is dielectric grease a good idea or does it matter? and will it prevent corrosion?
Old 01-07-2007, 02:38 AM
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I put this spray stuff that is suppose to "eat" the coorosion and prevent. I was going to use greae too but I forgot
Old 01-07-2007, 02:38 AM
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Originally Posted by 1993 SLE
i see you have the Billboost work gloves on
It'* dried sulurfic acid - I don't want it on my skin!
Old 01-07-2007, 02:43 AM
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mine was so bad there was stuff growing off the cables.... all clean now tho
Old 01-07-2007, 02:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Cheetah
I put this spray stuff that is suppose to "eat" the coorosion and prevent. I was going to use greae too but I forgot
might you have a BRAND or name or something?
Old 01-07-2007, 02:47 AM
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Not off the top of my head. You can get the stuff at Wally-World, Napa, Advance...

I would go to Napa and ask if they have battery corrosion spray, they should point you in the right direction
Old 01-07-2007, 03:02 AM
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had to do that just today to my sisters Crown Vic, top posts though :( Took apart, cleaned with a wirebrush and emery cloth, reassembled and sprayed with WD40, we shall see how long that lasts. Left the battery on the charger for about an hour for good measure too.


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