- 1). Turn the motor off of the vehicle and remove the key to avoid accidental starts while working with the battery.
- 2). Loosen the nut on the negative battery cable clamp with an adjustable wrench. Release the tension on the nut just enough so that the wire clamp slips up and off the battery port. Bend the negative cable back away from the battery and set a block of wood or other heavy non-metallic item onto the cable so it won't move.
- 3). Remove the positive battery cable the same way, setting it aside and away from any possible contact with the negative cable or the battery.
- 4). Rub a wire brush over the surface and sides of the negative battery port to dislodge built-up corrosion. Avoid pressing too hard with the brush. Instead, use repeated strokes from opposing directions to loosen buildup.
- 5). Place a battery port cleaner tool over the top of the port and gently turn it back and forth over the metal terminal so that the recessed bristles remove more of the corrosion.
- 6). Pull the small removable brush from the port cleaner tool and scrape off the inside, sides, top and bottom of the cable clamp to remove the corrosion there. If necessary, remove the nut completely and thoroughly clean all heavily corroded areas.
- 7). Replace the positive battery clamp to its port and tighten it down with the adjustable wrench so that it is secure. Replace the negative battery cable in the same manner.
- 8). Test proper engine operation by turning the key and starting the ignition.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time