How to Check Battery Cables for Corrosion and Tightness in a Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the bigger brother to the Cherokee. It is a large SUV that has the tough exterior and rugged looks of a proper off-road vehicle. If you want to keep your Jeep Grand Cherokee running mile after mile, then you need to schedule regular periodic check-ups, including a check of the battery cables for corrosion and tightness.

Instructions

1

Lift the hood, prop it open and look for the battery. It is located just behind the driver's side head lamp.

2

Look at the battery and search for a white or yellow powder. This is an indication of battery acid leakage.

3

Check the battery cables on your Grand Cherokee for corrosion by first disconnecting the cables from the battery. Bend the cables, and if you feel a crunching sensation, it is an indication that corrosion is present under the plastic covering.

4

Take a razor and make a vertical cut in the plastic covering on the battery cables. Look inside for any white or yellow powder or a green coloring on the copper wires under the plastic. These are both signs of corrosion in the battery cables on your Grand Cherokee. If either is present, these cables should be replaced.

5

Test the tightness of the battery cables on your Grand Cherokee by grasping the bolts that attach the cables to the battery. Try to move these bolts. If they budge or wiggle in your hand, they should be tightened with a wrench. Grasp the bolts with the wrench and turn them firmly to the right.

6

Try again to move or wiggle the bolts to make sure they are securely fastened to the battery.

7

Make a cloudy mixture of baking soda and water to clean any corrosion off of the battery cables on your Grand Cherokee. This mixture should be poured slowly over the corrosive powder. The powder should bubble and turn brown. As you continue pouring small amounts of the mixture over the corrosion, it should begin to wash away. You can rinse the remaining mixture off of the battery with plain water.