General Maxima Discussion This a general area for Maxima discussions for all years. For more specific questions, visit one of the generation-specific forums.

how to stop battery terminal oxidation?

Old Dec 13, 2005 | 06:30 PM
  #1  
super6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,404
how to stop battery terminal oxidation?

i keep cleaning it, even using sandpaper on it, and still it comes back every week, i know those little green pads dont work, how the hell can i get did of it for good? only happens on the neg terminal.
Old Dec 13, 2005 | 06:35 PM
  #2  
JwaxMax99's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 836
From: SE Wisconsin
Coat the terminals in grease.
Old Dec 13, 2005 | 07:44 PM
  #3  
Slider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 273
Dielectric grease
Old Dec 13, 2005 | 08:05 PM
  #4  
NightRider's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,502
Usually when the battery terminals start corroding that often its a sign that the battery is coming to the end of its life. I's start looking for a new battery soon.
Old Dec 13, 2005 | 08:22 PM
  #5  
86maxima96's Avatar
I Broke OT
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,665
Originally Posted by NightRider
Usually when the battery terminals start corroding that often its a sign that the battery is coming to the end of its life. I's start looking for a new battery soon.

is that true?
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 08:51 AM
  #6  
super6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,404
but its only 18 months old
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 08:55 AM
  #7  
ronin22357's Avatar
Donating Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 698
Get a battery terminal cleaner, use it, then coat them in vaseline
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 09:29 AM
  #8  
AscendantMax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 12,619
From: Houston
clean the terminals with a wire brush as mentioned, or if you don't have one, mix some warm water and baking powder and clean with that. once you get all the oxidation off, apply a layer of dielectric grease to the terminals.
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 10:01 AM
  #9  
geenowalker's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 239
Hey AscendantMax

I'v been using baking soda on my terminals which kills the corosion. how well does the baking powder work.
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 10:30 AM
  #10  
endus's Avatar
An atavistic endeavor...
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,209
Buy a sealed battery and this wont happen anymore. I will never use another battery that isn't sealed. My battery corrded like insane, and the corrosion went all down into the tray and onto the frame. Put in a sealed battery, scraped and painted the corrosion and it's no longer a problem.

Dielectric grease will help your current situation though.
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 11:16 AM
  #11  
86maxima96's Avatar
I Broke OT
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,665
Originally Posted by endus
Dielectric grease will help your current situation though.

no pun intended!

Also, some people say to use dielectric grease, while others say just vaseline. Is there any advantage/disadvantage with one over the other? Would vaseline more or less be good enough?
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 11:52 AM
  #12  
jimmycapp's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 301
Di-Electric grease is the optimal thing to use. I have never heard of vas.


James
Old Dec 14, 2005 | 09:41 PM
  #13  
Maximus_95's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,535
man, i have the same problem i just dont know why i never asked, now i know.
Old Dec 15, 2005 | 09:25 AM
  #14  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
my last battery had a small leak causing oxidation and crap all over the terminal. I had a "strong" tested battery, but it had a leak and caused my car to not start sometimes it was so bad. take a multimeter with the ground on the batterys ground and move the positive stick from your multimeter around the battery (not touching the battery) this will tell you if you have a leak, a small voltage pick up will indicate it.

im rocking a red top now
Old Dec 15, 2005 | 10:15 AM
  #15  
super6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,404
Originally Posted by tripleGmax
my last battery had a small leak causing oxidation and crap all over the terminal. I had a "strong" tested battery, but it had a leak and caused my car to not start sometimes it was so bad. take a multimeter with the ground on the batterys ground and move the positive stick from your multimeter around the battery (not touching the battery) this will tell you if you have a leak, a small voltage pick up will indicate it.

im rocking a red top now
sounds intresting, never thought to test it that way, but what i did was find my recipt for the battery and the warranty was for 18 months full replacement and pro-rated at 1.50 per month thereafter...so i went and piked up a brand new battery for $4.50!
Old Dec 15, 2005 | 10:16 AM
  #16  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
4.50, thats pretty nice. what brand battery do you have?
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 04:29 PM
  #17  
irish44j's Avatar
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 27,285
From: Burke, VA
Originally Posted by tripleGmax
4.50, thats pretty nice. what brand battery do you have?


Old Dec 24, 2005 | 06:40 PM
  #18  
Wrightsfd's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 125
Vaseline will work

Vaseline is the perfect solution, cheap (you probably already have some) and works very well.

Ah, Vaseline
Old Dec 28, 2005 | 01:14 PM
  #19  
Soaknfused's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 144
From: Pequot Lakes, MN
You can also buy that "crap in a can" to spray on after you clean the terminals, works good.. just a lil messy if you don't spray carefully.
Old Dec 28, 2005 | 03:39 PM
  #20  
konak85's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,310
From: NJ
The Haynes manual says to use vaseline.
Old Dec 28, 2005 | 05:42 PM
  #21  
00MaxSE's Avatar
Pointy Elbows
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,780
From: Cleveland, OH
Originally Posted by konak85
The Haynes manual says to use vaseline.
And if the Haynes manual told you to drive off a cliff... JK
I just bought a small pouch of the dielectric tuneup grease from Murrays. Just a few bucks.
Old Dec 28, 2005 | 05:44 PM
  #22  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
jason my manual says that you are supposed to go to the junkyard and buy me that bumper.....
Old Dec 28, 2005 | 05:48 PM
  #23  
00MaxSE's Avatar
Pointy Elbows
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,780
From: Cleveland, OH
Oh ok Gregg, I'll get right on it.
Old Dec 29, 2005 | 10:15 PM
  #24  
konak85's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,310
From: NJ
Originally Posted by 00MaxSE
And if the Haynes manual told you to drive off a cliff... JK
I just bought a small pouch of the dielectric tuneup grease from Murrays. Just a few bucks.
vaseline is best, you can use it for many other purposes too
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 12:32 AM
  #25  
AscendantMax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 12,619
From: Houston
Originally Posted by geenowalker
Hey AscendantMax

I'v been using baking soda on my terminals which kills the corosion. how well does the baking powder work.
seems to work pretty well...seems to neutralize any acid in the area.
Old Dec 30, 2005 | 01:28 AM
  #26  
MrGone's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 40,646
From: 127.0.0.1
don't forget to mix some baking soda and water and wash down the area around the battery every 6 months or so.


your car will thank you in the long hall (well, and you will too )
Old Jan 5, 2006 | 08:42 PM
  #27  
Tenn05's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6
White lube engine assembly grease works well,,,,,,,,,, or you can try the old trick, super glue two pennys on the top of the battery the copper is suppose to do something for it.????????????????
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
D Mason
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
1
Jun 21, 2016 04:43 AM
BobTX10
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
14
Oct 7, 2015 08:43 AM
bigfrank
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
Oct 1, 2015 12:51 PM
maxima297
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
4
Sep 30, 2015 03:32 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:25 AM.