Resetting ECU

[OutbackGT]

Okay, so I've decided to reset my factory ECU to see if it can take better advantage of my intake and muffler, maybe free up a couple horses. Thing is, my battery currently looks like this:

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/1483/1000624je1.jpg

As you can see, it's pretty messy. First of all, how do I physically disconnect the negative terminal? Secondly, what should I do to clean up all this corrosion and dirt? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[gil_ong81]

disconnect the negative terminal and leave it for liek 30 minutes. taht shoudl be enough to reset your ECU.

as far as cleaning goes. just take a wire brush to the 2 terminal. ideally, you want to slather them with dielectric grease after. i would not bother with the white powdery stuff at the tie down.

[d1giPhux]

What i did to mine was, take the terminals wires off by undoing the bolt on them, then take the battery tie down off, pull the battery off, clean the battery down, and use a wire brush to clean the terminals, and the terminal wires, inside and out, and then clean the battery tie down with the wire brush as well. Since a bit of the paint came off my batt tie down, i just sprayed it with some black spraypaint.. put it all back on, and was good to go! :cool:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yes, clean off the entire top of the battery (pay special attention to the terminals) and get it clean! Parasitic loss can be nasty on the battery.

Leave the terminal(s) disconnected for a half hour.

[OutbackGT]

How do I physically disconnect the terminal? (I only need to undo the negative one, right). Also, any special solution for cleaning off the grime? I've heard a water/baking soda mixture works.

[ivwarrior]

Yes, baking soda/water will neutralize any acid on the top of the battery/clean it up. You can also find stuff in a spray can to do the job. Not sure where they got it from, but we had it at a garage I worked at. It was a foam, and would change color in the presence of acid. We'd spray it on, wait unit it disipated, then hose it off.

As far as actually disconnecting the battery, in the picture you posted, the negative is the cable at the right. right near the fender, you can see a bolt/nut. I believe they're 10mm. Loosen the nut, then wiggle the cable to loosen the clamp a bit, then just pull the cable up off the post.

Once you have it off, I'd pull the boot up on the positive cable and look at it. If it looks corroded, I'd take it off and wire brush both battery posts, and if you have a brush that'll fit, inside the cable clamps as well.