Battery Terminal Corrosion

BlckStllion · March 18, 2001

I tried to start my truck yesterday after returning from a week-long vacation, and could only hear a weak click. After I disconnected the battery cables, the chalky-powdery corrosion was everywhere in the connection. This is about the third time that this has happened to me. Of course, with a little coca cola and a wire brush its a simple fix, but does anybody know how to find the source of the corrosion in my engine??? There is a short somewhere that is causing this problem, but I have no idea how to locate it.

(Edited by BlckStllion at 2:50 pm on Mar. 18, 2001)

March 18, 2001

That's normal battery corrosion. It will continue unless you protect the battery teminals with an anti-corrosive.

Lithium grease works well, or ask the parts store guy and he'll hook you up.

Baking soda and water is the best thing to clean it with. Coca-cola will appear to work well, but it actually speeds up the corrosion process.

MountaineerTom · March 19, 2001

I've also heard you can use a thin coat of vasaline on the terminals to keep them from corroding. I don't know how true it is though.

BIG BLUE · March 19, 2001

BlckStllion,

Sorry to hear you are having this problem. This is a well known problem with the GM setup especially on the C/K models. This is NOT "normal" battery problem, but a combo of the positive wire and the spacers used in the Delco batteries. One of the problems is the lead spacer on the side post terminal and the casing on the leads. You really need to strip back all the plastic on the leads and replace at least the connection and possibly the whole cable, since the corrosion will work it's way past the connector and down the cable. Also, by using a brass spacer this will help with conductivity and give better connection.

This topic is discussed often at the Suburban forum and I have listed a link to #1 Son's web page (he is a member of the Sub BB that has archived past posts and info for easy access) that gives a good detailed fix for your problem.

I had a 94 Sub that I did this fix to and it worked well. I'm surprised your not eating alternators up if this is the 3rd time this has happened. Also, I found that Boeshield T-9 is the best product for coating the terminals for protection, you can get this for about ? at a boating/marine store.

Anyway, here is the link for the fix, if you want to do it right and not put a "bandaid" fix and keep buying batteries:

http://forums.vmag.com/suvsuburban1299/messages/651.html

Good Luck,

BIG BLUE

bluez71 · March 20, 2001

My 97 GMC Z71 had just gotten its 3rd new battery at 61K one month before I sold it and bought the 2000. The dealer was absolutely useless as far as an explanation as to why I was on my 3rd 5 year battery in 3 1/2 years. I also had the corrosion problem.

BlckStllion · March 20, 2001

Thank you for all your helpful responses, I will look into trying to fix this recurring problem. By the way, I did have to replace an alternator last winter. Big Blue, thanks for the link, I will definitely look into that. BTW, have you ever considered that the problem is due to the fact that is an AC Delco battery? I have two batteries in my truck (one main,and one accesory) and I have already had to switch them because my old main had corroded all the way to the middle of the battery! (basically the bolt going into the battery was so corroded that it broke off inside the battery) Nevertheless, I will try to properly fix it as best as I can and keep you posted. Thanks again.

GUMPA · March 21, 2001

Quote: from BlckStllion on 9:12 am on Mar. 20, 2001
Thank you for all your helpful responses, I will look into trying to fix this recurring problem. By the way, I did have to replace an alternator last winter. Big Blue, thanks for the link, I will definitely look into that. BTW, have you ever considered that the problem is due to the fact that is an AC Delco battery? I have two batteries in my truck (one main,and one accesory) and I have already had to switch them because my old main had corroded all the way to the middle of the battery! (basically the bolt going into the battery was so corroded that it broke off inside the battery) Nevertheless, I will try to properly fix it as best as I can and keep you posted. Thanks again.

Might sound a little sloppy, but I COVER mine (3 Vehicles-6 Batt. terms.) with grease , nothing can get thru it , but DON'T lean over it fixing truck