What and where can I get something to clean my battery terminal? Its really dirty so it definitely needs to be all cleaned up.

 

you could use battery cleaner and use a wire brush and than seal it with the battery sealer

 

Get baking soda and mix it with water, then dip your wire brush into the solution and scrub at the terminals.

 

Use a battery terminal cleaner. $2 at Harbor Freight

 

mix (arm&hammer) BAKING SODA not baking powder- not the same!
a few tablespoons in a glass of warm water
Pour slowly on the blue and white crud- thats corrosive to your clothing and hands/eyes/general well being and happiness... so dont touch it
Make more solution as needed until its all removed and run off- it will bubble away
Now pour clean tap water over everything until residue is clear

Next: remove the NEG battery cable by loosening the nut- then twist very gently on the cable top- ALWAYS remove NEG first and replace LAST

If its tight stuck on, use a screwdriver to pry a space open in the end where the bolt is -loosen bolt more first- you will see- the metal is soft lead
then remove POSITIVE + cable

Clean both cable parts and the battery post with a special $2 wire brush tool that has a male and femal brush setup on one tool- slip it over the battery part and twist,,use the external cone brush for cable part
Or some gritty sandpaper will work too- the idea is a shiny surface on both pieces for maximum contact- minimum resistance

Reinstall POSITIVE + cable first and tighten snugly but gently- easy to break
Install NEG - cable last, tighten
reset the radio security code

Tips: Apply special battery protector grease to top and sides of the connector, or vaseline works well
Use $1 felt red and green spacers (red is Pos- Green Is - gound, intl symbols)
around the terminals-under the cables

With everything clean and the battery checked for full of fluid (if low use only DISTILLED water from grocery store-NOT tap water)
should be at the bottem of the sight ring inside battery
With it clean and full go to any major name parts stores- probably small private stores too kragen zone etc
NOT pepboys or any places with a repair shop as part of them- they want money!!

`parts only` stores check things for free to see if you need to buy a part-
Overcharging in the system can result in fast buildup of crud- or bad-weak ground wire can do it too

Simple test will tell you whats happening with all the charging system-
battery over 4 years old is ready for replacement in most cases
the newer the car the faster the battery dies

 

A poor terminal indicates battery itself is in a bad condition, not just the terminals.