Don t worry about getting it in the car or on the battery it s safe.
Battery cable corrosion car wont start.
In the car talk communities there s a question this week about a 2005 mercedes benz c class that won t start despite the battery being good before you go buying new batteries alternators or starters there s a sequence of diagnosis you should follow to figure out what s going on.
It could save you hundreds of dollars.
It will fizz and bubble that s ok.
When you attempt to start your car you may hear a single click or a rapid tapping.
After a minute start scrubbing with your toothbrush wire brush or battery terminal cleaner step 5.
The common signs above should help pinpoint what exactly is going wrong.
If you don t have a battery tester you can still see if the battery is good by jump starting the car.
Most auto parts stores will test a battery for free to see if it has enough voltage and cold cranking amps to start the engine.
Dirt and debris getting into the starter along with loose connections battery corrosion and damaged parts.
Another symptom of a bad or failing cable is the presence of corrosion on the terminals.
Over time the vapor can begin to corrode the terminal and cause corrosion to build up.
How to jump start a car without cables.
If your car won t start.
Drive the car normally close to home or with a support vehicle in case it dies again.
This is one of the more obvious signs of a bad ground manifesting in much the same way as a loose battery cable or a dead battery.
It supplies power for your car s electronics when you re underway and makes sure the right amount of charge goes back to the battery.
Corrosion develops as a result of the acidic vapor produced by the battery when it becomes hot from exposure to the heat of engine operation.
Once the car is running the alternator sends current back to recharge the battery as you drive.
Drive or run your car for about an hour or so turn it off and then restart it.
If the battery dies again quickly your alternator is bad.
If you have a battery tester that can measure cranking amps test your battery to see if it s weak.
This is the sound of the starter s solenoid opening or closing or the sound of the starter s bendix drive moving.
If the tester shows a weak battery you ll have to replace it.
That could be caused by corrosion on the battery terminals or a loose or faulty cable.
Check the battery cable connections.
Let the mixture sit for a little.
