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Can corroded battery terminals cause a car not to start?
My car refused to start this morning, and my dad, who lives four hours away, says I need to check the battery terminals for corrosion. Can corroded battery terminals actually cause a car not to start? Is this a rare occasion where my dad might be wrong?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yep, corroded battery terminals can cause a car not to start.
A car might not start for any number of reasons, but corroded battery terminals are definitely one of the first things to look at because they’re easy to spot and fix.
Cleaning the terminals is easy enough. First, you’ll want to thoroughly mix about a tablespoon of baking soda with a pint of warm distilled water. Now simply pour that onto your terminals.
Let that sit for a minute or two, then scrub the terminals with an old toothbrush or a wire brush. Once you’re done, rinse it off by pouring distilled water onto the terminals, and then dry it all off with a rag or a paper towel!
If the terminals are clean and the car still won’t start, you’ll need to call a mechanic and possibly have your car towed. We hope that’s not the case!
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