Alternator is overcharging, need to rebuild it!!!

alia176 · Apr 4, 2016

carmedic310 said:
I agree with the baking soda in warm water to clean up all the corrosion.Been doing this for years.I also coat my terminals with either grease or silicone dieletric compound.As far as the corrosion all over the holdown and all are you sure its not from the batteries vent area rather than the terminals that is causing it

In this case, the hold down bar is approx 2.5" away (going from memory, at work now!) from the vents and you should see the beautiful dome of corrosion on the bar. In fact, the bar has been eaten away with this mess and I will need to make a new hold down bar.

I'd use grease for the terms but due to the amount of dirt/dust I work in, it'd get nasty I'm sure. I'll pick up a batt term spray on my way home today. I'll set myself a reminder to do that actually. Thanks for the reminder!

oldpilgrim · Apr 4, 2016

gob some regular grease around the base of the terminal onto the battery, and attach the cables. Slather grease over the cable ends and you'll be good to go for a long time.

dickfoster · Apr 5, 2016

alia176 said:
In this case, the hold down bar is approx 2.5" away (going from memory, at work now!) from the vents and you should see the beautiful dome of corrosion on the bar. In fact, the bar has been eaten away with this mess and I will need to make a new hold down bar.

I'd use grease for the terms but due to the amount of dirt/dust I work in, it'd get nasty I'm sure. I'll pick up a batt term spray on my way home today. I'll set myself a reminder to do that actually. Thanks for the reminder!

I was at the auto parts today and saw several brands of terminal spray to eliminate corrosion and some brands of protector stuff to keep it from happening too. The protector stuff came in both spray or brush on. I'll just go with the felt rings and some goop to keep it under control.
Like I said when this standard battery gives up the ghost, an AGM goes in. If the regular battery wasn't new and mine already, I'd swap it out right now.