A&Q about 350Z
Q:
hello! i have had an optima battery for about 2 1/2 years now. about four months ago, i left my headlights on at work and the battery drained. so later that night i jumped started it for about 2 minutes. since then i have been driving it ( i had forgotten about the situation as i was originally planning on perhaps having it recharged) but it has been fine. should i still have it recharged?
and also whats the best way to keep battery terminals clean? will they always have corrosion even if i cover them? do they need regular cleaning?
thanks
A:
I should say its fine. Most alternators are capable of recharging a dead battery in about 20 minutes of driving.
A:
if the car is running, the battery is recharging. There is nothing different that a charger would do to the battery that the alternator already did.
So in short, no, there is no benefit at all to put the battery on a charger. Since the vehicle starts, its as charged as it going to get.
A:
thank you! so what do you think about keeping the terminals clea?
A:
uh, yah. Keeping them clean is a good idea, as with any electrical connection
A:
If the terminals get cruddy, simply make a paste of water and baking soda. It should be about the consistency of a milkshake. Remove the terminals from the posts and dump the slurry on everything; posts, terminals, battery hold down bracket, battery tray... anything with that corrosion on it. Wait 20 minutes and then come back and rinse it off with water. Super simple.
A:
good looking out! thanks again! man, you guys sure know your stuff! (or at least i hope so! hehe j/k j/k)
A:
Thats what I did too when my battery was all coroded on my '96 Cavalier. But i first got the terminals with a wire brush to make sure to get all the thick stuff was off first then used the water and baking soda.
A:
God, is there anything Baking Soda can't do? My mom swears by it using it for cleaning and getting rid of unwanted smells in the fridge and pantry.
A:
you can also use hot water and pour it on the terminals it works the fastest
A:
As added protection, once you get the terminals nice and clean, coat them in some vaseline. This prevents them from getting dirty again.
A:
yea nice point there