Battery "cleaning service" at dealership

That's not insanely terrible. You're talking plugs and oil, maybe a tire rotation as well? I'm trying to decide if I want to do plugs myself in 5k miles. It's a couple hour job sounds like.

 

Yup, the copper ones on the V6 are due for change at 30K while the iridium ones in my I4 are good all the way to 120,000!

 

The battery on my '13 took an unxpected dump at 54K miles.
Save the money for a new battery.

 

You don't need a brush if you want to go cheap just do with what shakerhood said put some baking soda on the gray fussy stuff a little water watch it fizz up for a min or 2 and pore a cup or 2 of water on it which will wash away the mess and you are done. You probably have baking soda in a kitchen cabinet if anyone ever does any cooking in your house so it will cost $00.00 vs $49.95. All the other suggestion are good too but take a little more effort. These dealers are such a rip off I feel sorry for people with no mechanical knowledge or ability.

 

The dreaded corrosion....

 

Mine on my '10 only lasted 45k. That service is 50% the cost of a new one.

 

I have always coated the posts and cable in vaseline to keep corrosion from forming.

 

Do I need to unhook both of these first on the negative side? Or just the on the left?

 

That is the positive side, the side with the red cover. The left side or side without a red cover, is the negative side. From the looks of it I dont see any benefit in removing the cables. Its not that bad. I would just brush it just how it is.

 

Also, idk if I'm seeing this correctly, but your positive terminals tighting nut looks loose. Check that.

 

Christ the guy at O'Reillys told me red was negative. Ok retightening now. I may just leave them on and brush around it
Thanks!

 

Annd thats why I don't trust auto parts stores.. Yes, just tighten it back up and brush both terminals without removing any of them and re "clip" that red cover back on the positive terminal.

 

Remove them. Its the interface between the posts and conectors that makes the electrical connection. Use a battery brush ($3 or $4 at any auto parts store) on the posts and connectors to remove corrosion and the layer of oxidation so you see bright shiny metal where the parts make contact. You will also want to wet the top of the battery and the connectors (I use a spray bottle but a hose or pitcher of water works) then sprinkle on a layer of baking soda. Give it a few minutes to work then rinse (flood) it really well with water. Baking soda and water not only removes/neutralizes acid and corrosion, removing the layer of gunk also stops parasitic drain between the positive and negative posts.

 

This. Standard practice when I find corrosion. Then a thin coat of dielectric grease to posts and terminals and done.

 

No you don't need to do both of those- just the one on the battery terminal. The other will come off with it. But that positive one looks pretty clean.

 

Does it have to be dielectric grease or can it be Vaseline like another member suggested?

 

Boom. All clean. Probably didn't need the $7.99 "kit" but it's better than $55

 

Or of you want to get a deep clean do this. I just have always wire brushed mine either while it was connected or disconnected depending on how bad it was, never had a issue after

 

I would not scrub Sam I am or blow or even put a tool on it. Make a thick coat of baking soda paste and lightly apply. Let sit take old tooth brush and lightly scrub. Wipe off or rinse with water and apply a thin coat of vaseline. You might want to Google for a highly recommended repair garage in your area. Cause these guys are going to drain your bank account! Dealership Service Centers are known as Revenue Centers in the car industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahLNvQapnyk

 

Vaseline is completely useless because its melting point is within a few degrees of 99F. It gets much hotter than that under the hood of a vehicle. IMO any kind of grease is unnecessary for battery connections. A bit of the red anti-corrosion spray is plenty good enough.