If your car isn’t starting, and the battery has a white and green, powdery build-up, you’re probably wondering if that’s the reason for your car trouble. But, can this corrosion cause a car not to start?
Battery corrosion can cause a car not to start. Corrosion can appear on the terminals, posts, and even the cabling. Your car battery emits hydrogen gas which, over time, can break down the electrical connections.
Too much corrosion will likely cause your car to emit signals of a dead battery: a clicking noise when you turn the key, weak gauge lighting, or no power or clicking at all. Don’t worry — the solution is simple. The rest of this article will take a closer look at why this happens and how to fix it.
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How Battery Corrosion Prevents a Car From Starting
When the metal terminals on the battery are exposed to hydrogen gas from the battery, a chemical reaction occurs that produces a sticky (or sometimes dry), greenish-white substance known as corrosion. This corrosion can build up on the terminals and interfere with the flow of electrical current between the battery and the rest of the car’s electrical system.
If the corrosion is severe enough, it can create a preventive barrier for electricity. This can result in a weak or slow start, or even a complete inability to start the car. The corrosion can also cause other problems with the car’s electrical system, including faulty headlights, faulty instrument panel readings, and other issues.
On top of all that, the corrosive substances produced by the chemical reaction can eat away at the metal terminals and other components of the battery, eventually rendering it useless. It’s essential to address corrosion issues as soon as they’re noticed in order to prevent further damage to the battery.
Why Do Car Batteries Leak Hydrogen Gas?
Car batteries are designed to produce electrical energy through a chemical reaction between the lead plates and the sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution. However, this chemical reaction will also produce hydrogen gas, which can leak out of the battery and into the surrounding environment.
All car batteries leak a certain amount of hydrogen. This has to do with creating a charge and storing it. Inside the battery, a number of lead plates are submerged in sulfuric acid, which certainly gets the job done.
Normally, the hydrogen byproduct is leaked harmlessly into the air. However, too much hydrogen can leak and begin to build up on the terminals, posts, or wiring for many reasons, including:
- If the battery isn’t placed correctly in your car, creating a lack of ventilation.
- If the battery case is damaged in some way.
- If the battery is getting old.
What happens next is poor or slow cranking when you turn the key. After that, the car might not start at all. So let’s examine how to fix the problem.
Clean the Corrosion and Make It Start
Cleaning corrosion off of car battery posts, terminals, and wiring is a simple process that can help maintain your battery’s health and ensure that it’s functioning properly. Here are some steps you can follow:
- Disconnect the positive and negative terminals of the battery (black before red).
- Using a wire brush, scour the corrosion off the posts, terminals, and wherever else it’s present.
- In addition to a wire brush, you may also use baking soda with a small amount of water (baking soda neutralizes battery acid and removes corrosion).
- As you clean, be careful not to create a connection between the two posts, or you’ll get a nasty zap.
- Wipe the area down with a dry towel and reconnect the battery.
Don’t forget to clean off the battery case, too, and check all around it for damage. Additionally, make sure the battery is stored correctly in the battery bay, as incorrectly storing it only leads to more problems.
Tips for Preventing Car Battery Corrosion
Preventing car battery corrosion before it starts is crucial in maintaining the overall health and longevity of your vehicle’s battery, and there are many ways you can do this. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Keep the battery clean and dry. This can be done by regularly inspecting the battery terminals and cleaning them with a wire brush and baking soda solution if necessary.
- If you plan to store your car for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to disconnect the battery. This will prevent any power from being drawn from the battery and help prolong its life. When storing a car for an extended period, it’s also important to make sure the battery is fully charged before disconnecting it.
- Monitor the battery’s charge level. This can be done using a multimeter, which is a tool that allows you to measure the voltage and amperage of the battery. If the battery is overcharged, the electrodes will be damaged, which can lead to corrosion. With the vehicle running, you should get about 14 volts from the multimeter. If the meter reads over 14.8, you can consider the battery overcharged.
- Avoid direct exposure to heat and sunlight, as it can damage the battery and accelerate corrosion. If the vehicle isn’t going to be used for a long time, consider using a battery tender or maintainer; these will keep the battery charged and prevent the electrolyte from evaporating.
In Conclusion
Battery corrosion can prevent a car from starting by creating a barrier between the terminals and the electrodes. The corrosion can also cause damage to the terminals and the battery itself, making it difficult for the electrical current to flow.
Car battery corrosion is easily cleaned off. Inexpensive wire terminal brushes are available all over the market. If you’d rather not spend money on terminal spray cleaners, which are also available, a mixture of baking soda and water works just fine. Proper maintenance of the battery prevents corrosion and, just maybe, can help you get to work on time.