Thread: Short on Power?
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Old 10-31-2001, 09:24 AM   #5
Joestang94
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 12
Question

Quote:
Originally posted by PKRWUD:
What they said, plus a note about your "fluffy".

"Fluffy" at the battery posts is caused by cracking the seal that surrounds the battery post where it comes out of the battery, allowing battery acid to attack the metal. This is usually caused by someone prying on the cables trying to remove them, or hitting them with a hammer trying to install them. Once the seal is cracked, it's junk. It can't be repaired. The battery will still work, but it will always release acid, and will shorten the life of anything metal near it. Since you just put a brand new battery in it, this is the time to replace the cables that are "fluffy". Before installing new ones, get a battery post cleaning brush, a 1" paint brush, a bowl of water and a box of baking soda. Mix a generous amount of baking soda (1/4 box) in the bowl of water and stir it with the 1" paint brush. Brush this mixture all over the battery posts (and anything else that's become "fluffy"). It will cause a reaction and start foaming. This is normal. When the foaming stops, rinse it with regular water, and reapply the baking soda water with the 1" paint brush. Keep doing this until it no longer foams. Next, with soda-water on the posts, use the battery post brush on each post until they are shiny. Again, rinse the posts, and reapply the soda-water, and watch for foaming. If none occurs, attach the cables and apply some battery-terminal protection fluid (Looks like raspberry syrup, and is available at all auto parts stores) to the cable ends and posts. This, to my knowledge, is the only way to stop the "fluffies" from returning and damaging your cables and battery posts.

Take care,
-Chris

Thanks for the information guys. I will check the cables. I was really shocked to find out that Ford does not sell just a pos.
battery cable. I have to buy the whole kit, the neg. pos. & clamps plus whatever else comes with it, for $180.00, I THINK THATS OUTRAGEOUS. I'll see what has to be done, again thanks for the help. I will be back with info a.s.a.p.
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