[zsimpson]

Okay so about 6 months ago my Tj started acting a little funny and it would randomly go dead sometimes AFTER BEING PARKED and I would have to get a jump from someone to start it, but RIGHT when the jumper cables would get attached it would start right up. Also, everytime I did this my battery gauge would shoot all the way to the top within 2 or 3 mins of me driving, passed the 19 on the gauge. Even though it probably wasnt the smartest idea, since I was just driving in town, I assumed this was a technical error and would just continue to drive until I got to my destination. That went on for a couple of weeks, but then it randomly stopped. I dk why. But now here I am 6 months later, in college, and the jeep being my only vehicle, and it decides to do it again. Whenever it goes dead, it goes COMPLETELY dead. No dash lights, no nothin. I can very faintly see the lit up handbrake light in my dash, but if I push on the brake pedal or something it goes out. Also, when it did it for the first time the other day, I got a jump from my brother no problem, but about 2 mins later it went dead at a redlight WHILE RUNNING, but then once again, once jumper cables got hooked to it, it instantly started up right when they got connected. Could this be fixed just by buying a new battery? Thats what I would assume but that would not be the cause of it going dead while running at a red light would it? Thanks for any advice guys. This might be a dumb question but I'm not all that mechanically inclined yet so I have no idea about all of this stuff haha.

 

[harleydragon]

might just need to clean your battery connections

 

[zsimpson]

What would I clean them with? Just a rag or somethin?

 

[zomby]

take the terminals off and you can use a sand paper i use emery cloth because it is more flexible or even a wire brush

 

[harleydragon]

if you have corrosion on them then soak the cable ends in a cup of water with baking soda for a couple minutes and clean the battery posts with the same solution..an old toothbrush works good for that..then sand or scrape the battery posts and connection area of the cables

 

[AndyR]

Either corrosion or maybe they cables just aren't attached tightly enough.

 

[97GreenGiant]

Soak in a cup of coka cola

 

[kfdjason7620]

Buy a battery terminal brush like this

 

[kfdjason7620]

Or a tool like this

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Loose/dirty/corroded battery posts and the connectors that go on them are common causes of that problem. Go to your local auto parts store and buy a wire battery brush which pulls apart into a male wire brush to clean the inside of the connectors, and a female wire brush to clean the battery posts. Edit: Exactly as shown in post #8 above.

Remove both (!) battery connections and get them shiny clean, then securely reinstall the connectors and make sure they are TIGHT when you're done. Tight enough that you can't move them with your hands.

Bad battery connections cause more problems than most people would ever guess.

 

[kfdjason7620]

Use it like this

 

[kfdjason7620]

And make em look like this!! :thumb: and I keep 2 new terminal ends and the brush in my glove box because Jeeps are notorious for terminal corrosion. Ive got mine coated in vaseline now, now air=no oxidation

 

[zsimpson]

Alright thanks for the replies guys. My brother works at a nissan dealership so I'm going to get him to bring me a socket set tomorrow so I can take them off , because being down here at college I have no tools whatsoever accessible to me. Ill probably use a combination of sand paper and the baking soda solution just to make sure them bad boys are extra clean lol thanks guys and Ill let yall know how it goes.

 

[zsimpson]

Soak in a cup of coka cola

you being for real?? i cant tell haha

 

[Full Spool]

Remove both (!) battery connections and get them shiny clean.

And remove negative connector first, and reinstall negative connector last.

 

[Full Spool]

you being for real?? i cant tell haha

I use coke, if I don't have any baking soda around.

 

[zsimpson]

Wow thanks for all the pics bro, that will help me out a lot when I go to the auto store like Jerry said. With me not being very mechanically smart I need all the help I can get. And thanks Jerry Ill be sure them bad boys are squeaky clean haha and does vaseline not mess with the connection jason??

 

[kfdjason7620]

It hasn't messed with mine since April!! Lol I've seen people put grease, paint or vaseline on em just to have a little barrier there to keep em from corroding

 

[zsimpson]

I use coke, if I don't have any baking soda around.

Ha. thats unexpected lol so if I dont have any baking soda I could just use coke instead? and just scrub it on the terminals with an old toothbrush or something?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

You can use nearly anything that is rough to clean them up enough to at least help. Just scraping the corrosion off with anything handy will work... heck a screwdriver, knife, etc. can be used to get them cleaned up enough to help.