Ah, so battery terminals are lead plated with copper underneath.

[Torn Mind]

So, corrosion strikes yet again on my mom's Toyota Matrix and today, I decide to give the positive terminal prolonged drenchings in baking soda to really get every last bit of sulphuric acid out, and when finished, it is clear that whatever lead was on the terminal is pretty much gone and the copper is all exposed now.

Another random thought. It seems that Toyota designed the terminals with knowledge that the postive battery terminal corrosion happens, since the positive terminal is easy to detach with a little 12mm bolt while the negative terminal is crimped.

Random thought #2. Before today, like a couple weeks ago, I took a look at the yellow terminal cleaning spray while browsing through Home Depot. It's main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda.

I have ordered some allegedly gold-plated terminals for $3.60. We'll see how the gold stands up. Although, the fumes of acid will slip through the air gaps and attack the lead posts on the battery anyway. Hmm. I need to get some terminal protectors stuff to fill in the gaps.

 

[pcgeek11]

Battery terminal rings have always worked for me.

http://www.mscdirect.com/product/de...164124448532&gclid=CLGY6YCjgNECFciEswodKx0DGA

 

[Zivic]

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2

 

[gorcorps]

So, corrosion strikes yet again on my mom's Toyota Matrix and today, I decide to give the positive terminal prolonged drenchings in baking soda to really get every last bit of sulphuric acid out, and when finished, it is clear that whatever lead was on the terminal is pretty much gone and the copper is all exposed now.

Another random thought. It seems that Toyota designed the terminals with knowledge that the postive battery terminal corrosion happens, since the positive terminal is easy to detach with a little 12mm bolt while the negative terminal is crimped.

Random thought #2. Before today, like a couple weeks ago, I took a look at the yellow terminal cleaning spray while browsing through Home Depot. It's main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda.

I have ordered some allegedly gold-plated terminals for $3.60. We'll see how the gold stands up. Although, the fumes of acid will slip through the air gaps and attack the lead posts on the battery anyway. Hmm. I need to get some terminal protectors stuff to fill in the gaps.

I wouldn't put something as noble as gold on that terminal. If the terminal is corroding, then if you put something as noble as gold in it's place then something else in that circuit will start corroding... and it will probably not be something as easy to replace as that terminal. When you're talking about corrosion like this, you will always have a sacrificial anode that needs to be replaced once it corrodes enough. That terminal is designed to be easily replaceable, which is exactly what you want from a sacrificial anode.

You might see less corrosion with these new terminals, but I'd personally just replace in kind... at least as far as materials used are concerned.

 

[mike8675309]

Corrosion comes from the outgassing of the battery and the fumes being trapped around the battery terminals. If you are seeing excessive corrosion you should have the vehicle checked for over charging the battery.

 

[Rifter]

My Gf's matrix is also horrible for corrosion, one of her batteries actually exploded once so i also thought it would be a over charge issue. But the alternator has checked out at 3 separate shops i have had it tested at as well as testing i have done myself. I honestly think its a design flaw somewhere in the electrical system as most matrix's i have looked at all show very high corrosion levels on the terminals.

 

[Torn Mind]

Corrosion comes from the outgassing of the battery and the fumes being trapped around the battery terminals. If you are seeing excessive corrosion you should have the vehicle checked for over charging the battery.

Alternator is fine. It hits 14.3 volts max, and often less when idling, like 13.8.

It has had the pile of white powder before, but the lead plated material is almost all gone and blue copper(II) sulfate is now what is in the most recent batch of powder.