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A car Battery needs regular TLC. Once a year, wipe the battery off and carefully clean the battery cables.
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Daily Care
1972 USA Owners manual (Page 24 ... ):
Before driving or whenever you call at a gas-station, be sure to check
- Battery
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Cable Cleaning
The battery cable connections should be cleaned once a year. Clean the battery terminals AND the inside of the battery cables down to bare metal. Coat the shiny metal with a thing coat of grease or battery terminal spray. I use clean motor oil - rub it on the bare metal post and ends of the cable.
The number one "my car won't start" problem -- with new cars or old -- is the battery cable connections.
Note: If the positive battery cable is overly corroded, replace it. Reasons to replace it include:
- Corroded bolt, so cable can't be tightened
- Green corroded wires (white corroded can often be cleaned up with a wire brush)
It wants cleaning, even though it only has light corrosion.
Cleaning Process:
- Note the radio presets
- Remove the negative battery cable first so that any accidental touch of the wrench will not cause a spark
- Remove the positive battery cable
- Wipe the battery down with a damp cloth. In a glass, mix a bit of Baking Soda with water. This is a base solution which will nuetralize any acid film on the battery. Carefully wipe the top of the battery clean. Dry with a paper towel.
- Dip the battery cable terminals ends in the glass to nuetralize acid deposits
- Use a battery brush to make the battery posts shiny.
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- Alternatively, you can scrape the posts with a flat screwdriver until shiny bare metal is showing all around.
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- Use the battery brush bristles to clean the inside of the cable ends. Or scrape with a knife.
- Coat the bare metal with battery-spray (alternatively, you can use a thin coating of grease or clean oil). This helps protect against corrosion.
- Replace positive cable and tighten to specification (not too tight!)
- Replace positive cable and tighten to specification
- Test for proper car operation, including starting the engine
- Reset the radio presets
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