How to Clean Battery Cables

Many times a car will not start because of corroded battery terminals or the cables need replacing. The car battery produces electrical current to start your car. A running engine turns the alternator with a belt so an electrical current can recharge the battery. In order to have a strong electrical current running your engine, the battery needs cleaning on a regular basis.

Instructions

1

Lean over the battery inside the hood of the car and look for the battery terminals. Compact cars may have the car battery turned on its side.

2

Read the signs at the base of each terminal. One will have a plus sign, the other a minus. Plus is positive and minus is negative.

3

Take a wrench and loosen the bolts on the battery cable. Loosen the negative one first. Clean one terminal and cable at a time, and then do the other.

4

Wiggle the cable end to help remove it from the terminal post.

5

Use the stiffness of a wire brush to clean the battery terminals and cables. It's important to have both clean for a strong connection. Insert the wire brush into the cable end and twist.

6

Check for frayed ends on the cable and replace if necessary. Don't try to repair cables, as replacing them isn't expensive.

7

Blow and wipe away dirt and corrosion from the battery terminals and cables, then reconnect.