Erik wrote:

> > Last week, after charging my battery when it was
> > flat, I noticed a lot of that bluish-white salt stuff
> > built up in the negative battery lead. I cleaned it
> > off and reattached the lead, and then as I was
> > doing up the nut with the spanner, I got a massive
> > spark discharge
>
> Hmmm I bet you were putting the positive terminal back on, and your
> wrench touched something grounded.

No - I attached the positive lead first and did its nut
up and put the protective cover on; and then attached
the negative lead, and then as I was doing up the nut
on the negative lead, the spark happened. I was
standing clear of the car and the spanner didn't
touch anything apart from the negative stuff.

> Auto parts stores have special battery terminal brushes... they're cheap
> and work great. You can also submerge the cable end/s in a mixture of
> baking soda water and the corrosion salts will boil away. The baking
> soda method doesn't work well if the terminals are oily or greasy. Keep
> the baking soda mixture out of the battery.
>
> Once you get the terminals clean and installed, giving then a good
> coating of heavy grease will prevent further corrosion. Be sure to pack
> it in well under the terminal. (Acids don't attack grease)

OK, I'll do that. Any particular sort of grease?