Family Handyman

Test Your Car Battery

Clean Your Battery Terminals

Corrosion buildup on battery posts and terminals can cause hard starting problems in cold weather and prevent your charging system from fully recharging your battery. Disconnect the negative cable first, then the positive cable. Clean the battery terminal posts using a battery cleaning tool or wire brush. Then clean the cable terminals. Clean off all grease and acid residue from the top of the battery with a paper towel. Then re-install the positive cable terminal, followed by the negative cable.

Protect Your Battery Terminals

For more car tips, check out this one simple trick to defrost a car window in seconds and 46 car detailing tips that will save you money.

Plus, check out how to replace a car battery in the video below.

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