Battery question. Why?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 757
Likes: 43
From: Cheyenne, Wy
Battery question. Why?
Why does the positive terminal keep corroding? I clean with baking soda and the blue STARTS coming back in 2-4 weeks. This much takes longer. Is there something else causing this? Bad cable ends, bad grounds, age .....what? Thanks for the help. Battery is 39 months old.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 988
Likes: 364
From: Republic of Texas
The photo indicates you have the same issue on both sides.
Once the cable has been exposed to the corrosive gasses from the battery for what ever reason, there is only one fix.
Replace the cable, as the cable has internal corrosion form the gasses. You can not fix this.
Your battery started this issue. Replace it. Once it starts venting due to a crack or bad seal that you can not see it will keep causing the issue. Or keep fighting the battle.
New cable and clamps.
Clean the battery thoroughly.
Use battery conductive grease.
Use the felt battery pads.
Once the cable has been exposed to the corrosive gasses from the battery for what ever reason, there is only one fix.
Replace the cable, as the cable has internal corrosion form the gasses. You can not fix this.
Your battery started this issue. Replace it. Once it starts venting due to a crack or bad seal that you can not see it will keep causing the issue. Or keep fighting the battle.
New cable and clamps.
Clean the battery thoroughly.
Use battery conductive grease.
Use the felt battery pads.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,545
Likes: 1,156
From: San Jose, CA
And because it’s not a sealed battery, make sure that it’s not slightly overcharging when vehicle is running.
If you’re getting a slight overcharge, it’s more likely to off gas through the vents and make this problem worse.
Otherwise everything that was just said. Cables are already compromised, and maybe the battery was overfilled at some point.
If you’re getting a slight overcharge, it’s more likely to off gas through the vents and make this problem worse.
Otherwise everything that was just said. Cables are already compromised, and maybe the battery was overfilled at some point.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,096
Likes: 5,758
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
X3 replace your cables and when you're done you can use a dielectric grease or just regular grease and just glob it all over the cable connection area and the post to the battery, no more corrosion problems.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 995
Likes: 314
My experience with recurring post corrosion is the seal around the post is bad. No way to fix other than replace battery. I use a terminal sealant but I have had batteries in various cars & equipment that never had any corrosion preventive measures applied and they never corroded.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 116
From: St James, Missouri
If it’s reappearing that soon you may have a battery case issue. Check where the lead terminal protrudes from the plastic case to see if it’s actually an acid leak from that spot.
If it’s a very minor leak you may be able to stop it with some really good battery pads like BG or Noco. If it’s a decent leak battery replacement is the only solution. The lead acid Motorcraft batteries are built by Johnson Controls and have had case integrity issue for the last few years. Johnson Controls builds a ton of batteries, if that Interstate battery is a couple years old they built it as well. Newer Interstates are usually Exide built now.
If it’s a very minor leak you may be able to stop it with some really good battery pads like BG or Noco. If it’s a decent leak battery replacement is the only solution. The lead acid Motorcraft batteries are built by Johnson Controls and have had case integrity issue for the last few years. Johnson Controls builds a ton of batteries, if that Interstate battery is a couple years old they built it as well. Newer Interstates are usually Exide built now.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 152
I used to have that problem and it didn't matter which battery, they all did it. I added a motor to frame ground, radiator support to battery ground, bed to frame ground. There should already be engine to firewall ground and hood to firewall. After that no battery has ever done it again.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,058
Likes: 594
I used to have that problem and it didn't matter which battery, they all did it. I added a motor to frame ground, radiator support to battery ground, bed to frame ground. There should already be engine to firewall ground and hood to firewall. After that no battery has ever done it again.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
Likes: 2,584
From: The Shenandoah Valley
I have on occasion used those red and green round washer things, but my best luck is after a good cleaning with baking soda, rinse, dry, and then a coat of paint or battery terminal protector after reconnected. I just spray red on the pos, black on the neg.
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