How Much Does A Battery Terminal Replacement Cost?

A battery terminal replacement could cost roughly $20 to $30, including labor. 

Typically, copper battery terminals cost around $3-$8 each and are preferred over cheaper battery terminals made from lead. 

Opting for OEM parts is ideal, although they could cost you a bit more depending on your car’s make and model. 

How Urgent Is A Battery Terminal Replacement?

A malfunctioning battery terminal shouldn’t be left unchecked as it could hamper the engine’s electrical supply, resulting in several drivability issues.  

Most importantly, it could prevent the starter from cranking up the engine, and you may need a jump start or a tow just as if you had a dead battery.

Damage to the battery terminal can also affect other car parts and electrical components. So, make sure to keep an eye out for symptoms of faulty battery terminals.

Signs You Need To Replace Your Battery Terminal

Identifying signs of a faulty battery terminal could save you from a potentially inconvenient situation. 

Here are some obvious signs: 

• A flickering Check Engine Light: The Check Engine Light on your dashboard indicates a malfunction in your vehicle’s operating system and must be diagnosed soon. However, you’ll need an OBD2 scan tool to determine the exact problem.
• Electrical power loss: If your battery terminal is corroded or faulty, you may encounter several electrical issues, including the car’s cabin lights dimming or a complete loss of power. 
• Engine not starting: When the battery terminals cannot conduct electricity from your car’s battery, your starter motor may fail to crank up the engine. While this could signify a faulty battery terminal, it could also point toward a dead battery.
• Noticeable corrosion: As hydrogen gas in the battery reacts with substances in the air, it develops bluish-green mold-like crystals deposits on the car’s battery, battery tray, and cable terminals. 

These deposits could reduce the alternator output, stress your battery charger system, and lead to severe engine failure. 

3 Battery Terminal Replacement FAQs

Let’s look at some typical questions and answers associated with a battery terminal replacement: 

1. What Is A Battery Terminal?

Battery terminals are the connecting points between the car’s battery and the electrical system.  

These heavy-duty connectors or clamps come in various designs, sizes, and configurations, so you should make sure you’re purchasing the right one for your vehicle.

Typically, these terminals comprise a positive and negative terminal, and if either isn’t connected properly to the charging system, you could face an electrical supply issue. 

2. How Do I Remove Corrosion From The Car Battery?

While removing minor battery corrosions from the terminals is relatively easy, more severe signs such as bluish-green mold could mean you need a replacement. 

Here are the steps to help remove minor corrosions: 

• Begin by putting on a pair of gloves and safety goggles to prevent any direct contact with these corrosive chemicals.
• Next, grab a wire brush or toothbrush. 
• Now, mix a cup of water with one tablespoon of baking soda, dip the brush in and carefully scrub the corrosion of the terminals.
• Alternatively, you could use a battery terminal cleaner spray and silicone dielectric grease.

3. How To Replace Battery Terminals

Replacing a battery terminal requires some technical know-how, so if you haven’t done this before, you should get a professional mechanic to do it.

Here are the required tools for a battery terminal replacement: 

• Wire brush
• Sandpaper
• Gloves
• Safety goggles
• Battery terminal cleaner spray, silicone dielectric grease, or baking soda
• New battery clamps
• 10mm wrench
• Rag
• Diagonal cutters

And here’s a quick look at how a certified technician would go about it: 

1. Turn off the engine and pop the hood.
2. Inspect the battery cable, the battery tray, and the battery terminal for signs of corrosion.
3. Loosen the terminal nut with a ratchet and disconnect the old terminal from the battery post, making sure you start with the negative terminal and cable to prevent an electric arc.
4. Use a rag and remove the battery terminal connector from the battery post.
5. Undo the but facing upwards and remove the wire plate and the anti-corrosion washer that connects the battery cable to the old terminal.
6. Brush off any corrosion on the battery post or wires using a battery terminal cleaner spray, silicone dielectric grease, or baking soda.
7. If there’s excessive corrosion, use a plier to hold the terminal and cut the wire with a wire cutter.
8. Use heat shrink tubing to seal the exposed wires, preventing them from corrosion.
9. Install the new battery terminal and secure the battery terminal end, the wire plate, and the anti-corrosion washer to the wires by tightening the upward-facing nut.
10. Repeat the process for the positive battery terminal and cable. 
11. Now, tighten the nut facing sideways and use a shim if the terminals don’t fit snugly (shims are metal caps for battery posts, ensuring the terminal adapter fits snugly).
12. Apply the anti-corrosive spray and dielectric grease to both the terminals, and you’re ready to go.