...are driving me crazy.
OK, I went to clean the battery terminals and connectors this morning ('99 Camry LE, 4 cyl, auto) because they were SERIOUSLY corroded. So I cleaned as best I could with a stiff plastic bristle brush and a baking soda/water mixture. Things actually came pretty clean. Hoever I now have two problems.
#1 I was able to get the negative battery cable because it was a little loose, but the positve cable would not budge. I was able to loosen the nut that's supposed to keep the positive cable on, but it would not "open" no matter how far I undid the nut. I tried using neele-nose pliers to pry it open, but no luck. Plus the metal's so soft there it dosnt' stand up to much force so I didn't want to go ape on it.
#2 The negative terminal was loose, but the nut that lightens/loosens the connection is completely frozen to the bolt (the nut was actually so corroded I needed to use a different size head on the ratchet to try to turn it). So I can't tighten it (or loosen it) properly.
I realize that I probably have to replace the clamps and I'm due for a battery change soon too (the battery is the original), but I'd like to be able to secure the negative clamp better for the next few days and obviously I need to be able to remove the positive one if I'm going to get a new battery.
What's the best way to "unfreeze" these parts of the clamps. Can I use liquid wrench or some similar product? I'd have already used that, but my understanding of those type of things is that they're flamable, so I was leary of using them around the battery.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-Matt
OK, I went to clean the battery terminals and connectors this morning ('99 Camry LE, 4 cyl, auto) because they were SERIOUSLY corroded. So I cleaned as best I could with a stiff plastic bristle brush and a baking soda/water mixture. Things actually came pretty clean. Hoever I now have two problems.
#1 I was able to get the negative battery cable because it was a little loose, but the positve cable would not budge. I was able to loosen the nut that's supposed to keep the positive cable on, but it would not "open" no matter how far I undid the nut. I tried using neele-nose pliers to pry it open, but no luck. Plus the metal's so soft there it dosnt' stand up to much force so I didn't want to go ape on it.
#2 The negative terminal was loose, but the nut that lightens/loosens the connection is completely frozen to the bolt (the nut was actually so corroded I needed to use a different size head on the ratchet to try to turn it). So I can't tighten it (or loosen it) properly.
I realize that I probably have to replace the clamps and I'm due for a battery change soon too (the battery is the original), but I'd like to be able to secure the negative clamp better for the next few days and obviously I need to be able to remove the positive one if I'm going to get a new battery.
What's the best way to "unfreeze" these parts of the clamps. Can I use liquid wrench or some similar product? I'd have already used that, but my understanding of those type of things is that they're flamable, so I was leary of using them around the battery.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-Matt