Your battery is the heart of your engine’s electrical system and maintaining its health is crucial to keeping your vehicle running smoothly.
Here is what you can do yourself to give your battery proper care in between visits to your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.
Precautions
- Your vehicle's battery creates gases that are potentially explosive. Never smoke near your battery or use a match or other open flame near it
- Keep metal objects, including watches and jewelry, away from your battery terminals – contact could create a spark and ignite the gases
- Battery acid is caustic – use safety goggles and rubber gloves, and avoid contact with your skin, eyes, nose or mouth
- Always make sure your engine is turned off before you check your battery
- Never remove or damage the vent caps
- Make sure the area you are working in is well ventilated Maintenance and care
- Keep the top of your battery clean and dry
- Make sure that the battery connection cables are tightly fastened to the terminals
- Check for broken connections and frayed or cut cables – these need to be replaced as soon as possible
- Check for any other obvious signs of wear
Cleaning battery corrosion
- Remove the ground connection first by removing the negative (-) terminal from the post (note: older vehicles may have a positive ground)
- Remove the positive (+) terminal from the post
- Scrub any corrosion off the terminals, cables and posts using a stiff brush
- For tough buildup, use a solution of baking soda and water, taking special care that none gets inside the battery
- Reconnect the terminals in the reverse order from which you removed them, positive (+) first, then negative (-)
- Double-check to make sure the connections are tight and secure For more detailed information and illustrations on battery maintenance and safety precautions, be sure to check your Owner Guide.
Battery service from the experts
The Ford Motor Company-trained technicians at your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership can test your battery using the most up-to-date electrical system diagnostic equipment. If you need a new one, they have the right high-quality Motorcraft® batteries for your vehicle and driving needs in stock. Plus, they would be happy to install it for you and can take care of everything else your vehicle needs.
The Ford Motor Company-trained technicians at your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership can test your battery using the most up-to-date electrical system diagnostic equipment. If you need a new one, they have the right high-quality Motorcraft® batteries for your vehicle and driving needs in stock. Plus, they would be happy to install it for you and can take care of everything else your vehicle needs.
