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What do I do if the battery terminal won't come off?

One of the terminals on my car battery is getting corroded so I’m trying to get it cleaned up. It’s stuck, and I can’t get it off the battery. What do I do if the battery terminal won’t come off?

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Payton Ternus · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Oh no! Sounds like you have a sticky situation on your hands.
Sometimes you have to put in some extra work to get the results you need, whether you’re trying to find the best deals on
car insurance
or working under the hood. Here’s what you need to do if the battery terminal won’t come off:
  • Check for rust or corrosion. Rust will be brown, while corrosion is white and powdery.
  • Apply baking soda to the affected areas, and add water to create a reaction with the corrosion. Use a rust-penetrating spray on any rust, and allow it to dry for 10 minutes.
  • Scrub the terminals with a wire brush. Rinse with water and towel dry.
  • Use pliers to carefully remove the terminals. Make sure you remove the negative cable first!
Luckily for you, shopping for car insurance is much easier than removing a stuck battery terminal. Just download the
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