What would cause major corrosion buildup on the positive battery terminal? Large chunks. I know how to clean it, but I want to find the root of the problem.

Electronically, my car is completely stock.

 

This interested me so I did a little search on yahoo and this is the best answer I could find.
"Oxygen, moisture and pressure combine to form a perfect environment for growing corrosion on a conductor. Add an electrolyte such as salt water or leaking battery acid to the exposed copper and you have created a great fertilizer for the turquoise fur that eats wires from the inside out and causes some of the weirdest symptoms and hardest-to-trace electrical problems. " Here's the link to the web site I found it at if you want to read what else it says.http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/sept2002/techtotech.cfm

 

try using petroleum jelly (pretty sure its the same thing as vasoline) on the terminals to prevent build ups

 

Thanks for the link to the article. It really makes me wonder about the safety and condition of wiring in older vehicles.

I wasn't aware of the petroleum jelly trick. I'm going to apply a generous coating.

Thanks again.

 

If you have an ACDelco side-post battery it may be leaking from the terminal. I've heard this is a common problem.

 

IMHO, A/C Delco battries as installed as original equipment SUCK !!


The one in my '99 SS cratered - after warranty, of course, and messed up the positive terminal. It is still messed up as it apperas to be a major PITA to jack w/.


The one on my wife's '02 Saturn did the same.

Dealer got to play w/ that one, though - and I don't think it hurt the wires.

Another buddy lost the battery like that in his '01 Z71, and a guy at work in his '00 C1500.

Getting the picture ?

My .02 , anyway.

Britt