Battery corrosion

[Bugsinrugs]

My sons girlfriends Mercedes ML 500 battery died. I was in the area but I didn’t have any tools. We called AAA and they provide a battery service. This poor guy had a rough time getting the shroud and negative terminal off. We find the negative terminal needs to be replaced and some wiring unrelated to the battery but hidden behind the battery starting to corrode. Is there a way to stop corrosion on these wires? She wants to keep the car for one more year until she graduates from law school. Thanks in advance.

[rfuerst911sc]

A good smear of dielectric grease will retard/prevent further corrosion . Any auto store will sell it .

[RWebb]

the negative terminal on the battery (post)??

or the cable to the battery?

[Tobra]

maybe baking soda solution to neutralize acid, then fresh water to remove that prior to grease

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Tobra

maybe baking soda solution to neutralize acid, then fresh water to remove that prior to grease

+1
That's the way to do it. DO NOT let baking soda get into the battery.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by RWebb

the negative terminal on the battery (post)??

or the cable to the battery?

The negative cable not the terminal and some thicker wire on the firewall.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Tobra

maybe baking soda solution to neutralize acid, then fresh water to remove that prior to grease

Thanks, I’ll give that a go.

[chapo]

Exactly, baking soda, rinse, grease. Do not let the grease get between the contacts, coat it after all of the connections are made. My Fi50 by the beach always grew stuff on it until I did it this way.

[Por_sha911]

If the corrosion is in the strand cable itself, treating the end won't do much. Replace the cable.

[Bugsinrugs]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

If the corrosion is in the strand cable itself, treating the end won't do much. Replace the cable.

That’s my plan. However there is a fat wire behind the battery connecting to a terminal on the firewall that is corroding. That one isn’t easy to replace. I was hoping to slow the corrosion until she gets a new car.