Will do. I cleaned up the battery and terminals last weekend, but there's already schmutz building up again.

I'm not sure how we're going to get the ground terminal off without breaking it. The bolt that is rounded off is so close to the surface of the battery that it will be hard to get anything in there (e.g. drill, broken screw extractor).

Is there anything that's particularly good for dissolving corrosion byproducts outside of the old baking soda and vinegar? Maybe use some kind of penetrating oil? Anything that could get the hardware un-stuck would help.

It's pretty bad. I'll post a picture later to show you what I mean.

I use this, but there are undoubtedly less-pricey options: Wurth Battery Terminal Cleaner

Wurth also makes a good grease for the terminals, but again, there are much cheaper options that'll work just as well.

[img:center]http://imgur.com/4J4WoK7[/img]

Like I said, pretty bad.

Worked on it with a wire brush and baking soda and vinegar before this photo was taken.

Try using just baking soda without the vinegar.

You're trying to neutralize the battery acid (sulfuric acid) which caused the corrosion of the terminal. Vinegar is 5% acetic acid, which just adds to the acid corroding the terminal, and makes a fizzy mess.

Personally, I use a saturated solution of Arm&Hammer soda and water; put warm water in a plastic cup, add several tablespoons of baking soda and stir until it dissolves. Use this solution liberally to clean off the corroded terminal and battery post. Rinse off the mess with plain water when you're finished.

I picked up those felt washers, and a packet of anti-corrosion grease, earlier today.

While I was at the store (Autozone), I let one of the clerks take a shot at removing the rounded-off old bolt. She couldn't budge it. Not even after several shots of a special spray that's supposed to help remove corrosion products.

That bolt is going to have to be drilled out, to get the terminal off.

I thought mine looked bad...it is still easy to take on and off, but I have to hold it since the bottom is gone from all those years of the Wally World batteries that vent around the terminals.

I worked on the terminals again on Saturday. I got the positive terminal off, and took it all apart - square head bolt, nut, wing nut, terminal itself. Dropped them all in a cup with a solution of distilled H2O and baking soda. That really helped. Cleaned all up with a wire brush, cleaned the post too, and put it all back together, with anti-corrosion grease and a felt washer. So the positive side is good to go.

Negative terminal...not so much. Still pretty hopeless. Several times I poured the baking-soda-and-water solution over the negative terminal. Every time, there was stuff foaming in the cracks & crevices. Still couldn't get the bolt to turn. Going to keep trying. The clamp itself is looking a lot cleaner, and none of it has corroded away. I'm not going to cut it off unless there is just no other way.

My terminal is in some ways not as bad, but that bolt is stuck tight. I can't turn it at all, despite multiple cleanings with baking soda-infused water and a wire brush.

I guess I'll have to drill out the bolt. Tried earlier today and failed.. I'll need a better drill bit. Even though it's supposed to be suitable for metal, the bit would barely make a dent in the bolt, and it flexed visibly (yikes!) when I tried to make progress. Also it's hard to get the right angle, because the drill is wide.

Make sure the drill isn't set to reverse...dumb mistake, but I've made it before...you feel like an idiot when you discover it...:)

That's totally something I would do, but no, not this time.

Next idea is a bigger bit (perhaps 1/8") and a titanium one rather than whatever was in the Ace Hardware drill bit set I've had for years.

My smaller drill bits have seen the most use over the years, so I expect they're fairly dull. Might be time to invest in a set of replacements, or get the ones I have sharpened.

Your negative terminal is shot even if you do replace the bolt.

This is what we use at the dealership for situations like this. We get them from O'reiley's.



Here it is installed on my 02

Have you given thought to using a Dremel cutoff wheel, and just slicing the shytty thing off?
Then using a terminal replacement kit (like the guy before me just mentioned) to get the job finished?

X2 on the dremel cut off wheel. It also looks like you have enough room for a hacksaw blade in between next to the end of the terminal and battery post. Then you could pry the remainder off of the post. Seems like less metal to get through than the bolt. Then use a decent pair of dykes or linesman pliers to cut the terminal off of the cable. Try and keep the cable as long as possible if your not splicing in.

Yes, cutting it off is certainly looking better and better.

I shopped for a replacement terminal/splice kit like what was pictured above, but they didn't have it at Pep Boys or the hardware store, and I didn't find it on the Interwebz.

Looks like I need to make a stop at an O'Reilly. That kit is perfect. I had avoided simply cutting off the terminal until now. It didn't look like there would be enough slack on the cable afterwards to install a new terminal, and have it fit properly.

Repair Splice Kits