If you have a battery that is corroded, it's leaking. It will eat a hole in your car. And it won't take long. And that spot where the battery is structural underneath so get yourself a new battery.

And the advice about the baking soda solution - water mixed with arm-and-hammer - is good advice. That neutralizes the acid and will help you clean off the car under the battery. Take the battery tray out while you have the battery out - it's only a couple bolts.

Clean it out good.

Put the battery tray back in.

Put in a new battery. I like Optima because they are gel-cells and don't leak, and generally last longer.

Before you reconnect the clamps, use a brush to clean the terminals - they make a special one for batteries.



One part is for cleaning the battery terminal; the other is for the inside of the battery clamps.

When you get the battery back in you will have a few little jobs to take care of.

- Radio memory may be erased (saved stations, preferences etc.)
- You may get a BAS/ESP warning light - don't panic - it's easy to reset:

Synchronizing ESP

There may be other things but in my experience, that's what I found.

Don't put off getting the battery. Running the car without a good battery puts stress on your alternator and can damage electrical components that require proper voltage.