So I am planning on cleaning my posts and I was just wondering, is it absolutely neccesery to take the cables off? I am going to use baking soda and water. And also, what mixture do I need as in water to BS mixture.

 

UPDATE: I was trying to take the screw out of the positive cable end so I could unhook my subs and while I was trying to loosen it, it felt like it was welded to it because I do not remember tightening it down so hard. And also while I was doing that the cable end snapped in half. Great.

 

Luckily, its an easy fix. Remove the old battery terminal from the battery. Pick up a universal top post repair terminal and top post battery terminal cleaner (has a wire brush in it) from an auto parts store. Cut the old battery cable off just behind the old terminal, strip back enough bare battery cable wire to install the battery cable onto the new terminal. Clean the battery terminal with the battery terminal cleaner. Install the new terminal with the attached battery cable and you are done.

 

I know it's an easy fix but there is a problem. On the positive, it's corroded so bad that the screws holding the cables down are pretty much welded in there. I can't get them to budge one bit. I would just cut it off like you said but I have no more room on that cable. New ends are on the way.

 

You can pickup a top post terminal puller from the auto parts store to solve this problem. The jaws grab each side of the terminal and the center post of the puller pushes against the center of the battery post which pulls the battery terminal away from the post.

 

Just get a pair of plies and twist the terminal around the post. I bet you can get it off. Works for me. Just don't put side ways stress on the post or you'll be getting a new battery

 

I didn't even know that they made those. Lol and I ended up just getting a whole new battery. It was toast anyways. I don't even know how my truck started. Lol now I have a new battery and new shiny cable ends!

 

Guess how I know. Certainly have been there and done that :-)

 

You learn everything by experience! lol

 

No doubt!!! In addition to the experiences of others, such as the great folks on this forum. :-)