Is white stuff on a car battery a sign that the battery is dying, or does it just need terminals cleaned?

Question

My battery light came on & there is white c**p on the terminals, and along the seam of the battery's lid. Obviously, this adds resistance to the terminals, but is it a clear sign that the battery is shot? Should I bother cleaning it? I got the battery back in oct of 2005.

Answer 1

all your seeing is acid corrosion and its normal on the terminals, however when it starts appearing around the seal that's a sign of fatigue but don't go get a new battery yet all you need is a terminal brush and maybe some DISTILLED water. first clean your terminals and any wear els you see corrosion then (this is were the distilled water comes in) take the lids off to your cells and check to see if any of your cells are low in acid if so add some distilled water and put the caps back on.  

Answer 2

buy a new battery and clean the battery cables before you put them on the new battery and then check the charging voltage to the battery.Charging voltage should be around 14.

Answer 3

clean with WD40 take your car to auto part's store they will check your battery for free.

Answer 4

yea ide say your battery is on its last leg just go to wal mart they got battery's for about 70 bucks

Answer 5

baking power water mix dump on - foam - dump more - foam - know clean up - your battery  

Answer 6

Battery post corrosion happens to good and bad batteries and does not indicate battery fatigue or failure.

Get a battery cleaning tool (less than $10), clean the post and terminals, wipe it all off with a rag, put petroleum jelly on the posts and put it back together.

If you have a good reason to believe the battery is dying, then take it to an auto parts store and have it tested.  But I don't believe corrosion indicates this problem.