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Cleaning copper on Hybrid battery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Integraoligist, May 31, 2016.

  1. Integraoligist

    Integraoligist Junior Member

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    Hey all,
    I've got the hybrid battery out of the car and there is a decent amount of corrosion/acid on the copper contacts. I read in another thread (which i can't seem to find now) that after cleaning them off with white vinegar and soaking in a baking soda/warm water mix... they spray some type of anti-corrosion spray on them.

    Any idea what spray that was? I would prefer not to have to clean all these coppers again on the HV.

    Thanks all!
     
    #1 Integraoligist, May 31, 2016
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    My hunch would be to not put anything on them.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 31, 2016
  3. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    pictures?

    i suggested covering them with dielectric (silicone) grease, but some people disagreed.
     
    #3 Former Member 68813, May 31, 2016
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  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My opinion is to just clean them off and dry them. I wouldn't put anything else on them.
     
    #4 JC91006, May 31, 2016
  5. Integraoligist

    Integraoligist Junior Member

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    you guys clean them with anything particular, or the vinegar/baking soda method? I've got a 2005 and theres a decent amount of green on the copper and a few of the nuts with acid on them. Dont have a pic at the moment.

    Maybe just needs a cleaning once every 4 years or so?
     
    #5 Integraoligist, May 31, 2016
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I don't think there should be a maintenance schedule on the battery. It's designed to be maintenance free
     
    #6 JC91006, May 31, 2016
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    If I recall Gen1 had a bigger corrosion issue than Gen2, so there may be some posts over there. Re-Involt when they were in business if I recall they would clean and coat it with something. Maybe not so much Gen2 as those were better in general better protection.
     
    #7 wjtracy, May 31, 2016
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    For starters, what to clean/neutralize them with is determined by what's on them. The NiMH electrolyte is a very strong alkali, so you would use an acid to neutralize it. That's what gets people thinking vinegar, but what Toyota always recommends is boric acid, which you can get at the drugstore. You should have the stuff around any time you might be working in the battery, and use it to neutralize and mop up any kind of leaked substance you see in the area, because the alkaline electrolyte is strong enough to make a mess out of skin and eyes.

    The Gen 1 modules were known to be leaky and so there was a service campaign about that where sealant goop was added, so later on anybody trying to work on a Gen 1 battery had to deal with both alkaline electrolyte (wash with boric acid) and sealant goop too (whatever works, a lot of PriusChat reports seem to have had luck with acetone).

    In later generation batteries there should be no need to contend with the goop, at least.

    There was a PDF file from Toyota describing how to do the Gen 1 resealing. Even though it was Gen 1-specific, it has good descriptions of the right procedures for neutralizing electrolyte etc, that will apply to any NiMH battery. A search on PriusChat for SSC 40G ought to turn it up.

    I'd be sort of conservative about putting anything on them, though the Re-Involt (now Dorman) battery rebuilders like to nickel plate them.

    -Chap
     
    #8 ChapmanF, May 31, 2016
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