My terminals are all fluffed up so I need to disconnect and remove the battery to clean them up. Are there any tips, procedures? Is the fluffing around the terminals a sign the battery is on the way out? What products do you use to clean and protect. Thanks.

The "fluff" is the result of acid reaction to the lead (or whatever is used these days) terminals. Normally the battery vents through a tube at one end, but only a little. Yours suggests that excess gases are escaping, which indicates a dying battery, or an overcharging alternator. Depending on where you are in France, as the weather gets colder, the battery will suddenly give up if it is the problem.

Main concern might be where else is being attacked by the acid.

To clean it up.
Remove battery.
Wash the terminals with warm water. A weak solution of bicarbonate of soda might help. Wear good rubber gloves.
Wipe the cable terminals the same way.

Might be an idea to wipe over the whole area under the bonnet with the bicarb solution. Careful not to drown any wiring connectors, especially the ECU.

Once refitted, with engine running, get the charging voltage checked. Should be around 14v. Anything over 14.5 is potentially damaging the battery, and may cause bulbs to fail, and damage electronic components.

Don't forget to put a bit of silicone grease or Vaselene on the posts and clamps before refitting them to reduce a recurrence of the corrosion.

nobbles said:

My terminals are all fluffed up so I need to disconnect and remove the battery to clean them up. Are there any tips, procedures? Is the fluffing around the terminals a sign the battery is on the way out? What products do you use to clean and protect. Thanks.

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I have to disagree with Portland_Bill the 'Fluff' on the terminals is normal plain old Lead oxide, its the reason people say you should put vasaline or grease on the terminals as its stops the air getting to the lead, and lead oxide isnt very conductive and creates a poor connection



you can simply use a piece of course sand paper to get rid of it. you can also if you want buy a special brush for cleaning the terminals



just remember lead oxide isn't very good for you so dont breath it in and try and keep it off your skin

Thanks for the tips, I have some electrical connector cleaner also. I will clean it all up and have it checked for overcharging etc at the local halfords equivalent here. To remove is it negative first? No other tricks like leaving the ignition on etc. just to remember my radio code.

Lead very quickly forms a film when exposed to air - which is why newly-scraped and shiny lead goes dull fast. Dull mating surfaces make poor conductors. Trying to solder lead is almost impossible unless it is scrupulously shiny-clean.

The best battery connections are formed by cleaning the female (clamp) side first, then scraping or abrading the battery terminal and fitting the two together, dry, with little delay. Coat the two surfaces with Vaseline after tightening to minimise further oxidation.

The same basic principles also apply to most car electrical connections, such as fuses. It pays, now and then, to pull your fuses, clean them and reinsert them.

If you disconnect the battery, does the radio loose its code (if it has one)?

Nope

gr J

So I removed it, cleaned the connectors with the electrical cleaner then sandpaper, same with the terminals. The battery tray had a couple of ever so small areas of surface rust so I also sanded these back and applied a couple of coats of hammerite. The strap bracket was the same, this was sanded back and I sprayed with galvanized to prevent the rust returning, not sure to paint satin black or not, the silver is interesting. Negative first for removal, no radio code lost.