How to Remove Corrosion from a Car Battery

Your car battery terminals, cables, and posts can all suffer from corrosion — a buildup that can impair the delivery of battery power to your engine. If you open your car hood to find a white or blue-green-tinged buildup on your battery, you’ll need to learn how to clean car battery corrosion. Fortunately, removing corrosion is something you can do at home in San Diego. In the guide below, the Mercedes-Benz of San Diego team looks at what causes car battery corrosion and how to remove it.

Signs of Car Battery Corrosion

Most of the time, it’s easy to spot corrosion on your battery casing, cables, or post. However, you may notice the following signs of corrosion while driving in La Jolla:

• Weak engine power
• Weak ignition power
• “Low voltage” dash display warnings

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to pop the hood and take a look. To ensure that the engine is cool, make sure your car has been parked for at least 30 minutes before opening the hood. In the event that you need a new battery, you can find exactly what you’re searching for at our parts department.

What Causes Car Battery Corrosion?

Corrosion over time is unavoidable, unless you take steps to prevent it in advance. Sulfuric acid inside from the battery reacts with the molecules of surrounding materials (such as metals under the car hood) to cause corrosion. If you have questions about the corrosion buildup on your Mercedes-Benz battery, give our team a call! We’re happy to provide DIY cleaning tips or walk you through how to clean car battery corrosion.

How to Clean Car Battery Corrosion

Cleaning the corrosion off your car battery is something you can do in your own driveway, but some drivers prefer to rely on a professional technician. If you schedule service to remove corrosion from a car battery, be sure to choose a Mercedes-Benz certified service center near Rancho Santa Fe. If you’ll be taking the DIY route, you have a couple options when it comes to cleaning products. Professional cleaning solutions are available to order at our parts center, but you can also effectively remove corrosion from a car battery with baking soda. Here’s how:

• Personal Protective Equipment: Protect yourself with gloves, goggles, and a respirator.
• Corrosion Cleaning Solution: Spray liberally on the affected areas and clean with a wire brush until the corrosion is removed.
• DIY Battery Cleaning Solution: Remove terminal connectors and liberally sprinkle baking soda over the corrosion. Add water a little at a time and scrub the affected area until the corrosion is gone.
• Prevent Future Corrosion: A rust inhibitor spray or anti-corrosion gel can help prevent corrosion.

Rely on Mercedes-Benz of San Diego for Expert Mercedes-Benz Maintenance and Service

Whether you need to check your oil or rotate tires at home in San Diego, the team at Mercedes-Benz of San Diego is here to help however we can. Connect with us to learn more about your Mercedes-Benz vehicle’s regular maintenance schedule and how to keep your car running great between service visits.