How do you tell if battery terminals are worn out?

Background: Southwest part of the country heat (100 F) battery terminals corrode quickly - like a couple of days. I clean them well on the terminal and the inside of the terminal. I have new anti-corrosion pads on the terminals. Battery is 1 year old. The battery did this last summer. Terminals are very tight to where you can not turn them with your hand.

How bad is it? When they corrode the car does not yield power at all - no lights, no electric locks. Clean corrosion 11 volts returns. Jump with good cables and car starts up.

One person thought I should replace the terminals becuase they are "worn out" and thought that the bad connetion was draining the battery even while the car sits ... which is why I was asking how one tells if the terminals are worn out. Again, they make a good connection.

As a closig thought, I am wondering if the battery just vents a lot - its an interstate battery from Costco. Water levels in battery good. WHat I am seeing is more rust on the hood then ever before.

Any help diagnosing would be helpful.

are you cleaning the battery and terminals with a acid neutralizing cleaner?

a smear of vaseline on the battery terminals will normally prevent corrosion

Some batteries do vent, but you can get ones that dont, they are not that much more expensive

If those measures are taken, and you have any further issues, you should replace the battery and main ground cable as well

a good battery should hold 12.5V+ for a couple of weeks at least

run a parasitic draw test would be a good idea

Battery may leak, or weep a bit of acid around the terminal, this is a failure, if under warranty, get it replaced, if no warrenty replace it anyway. Leaks here will destroy the cable and its clamp, and will result in no start problems. You got acid leaking it you are getting lots of corrosion
the battery terminal is FRAGILE! The seal between the plastic battery top and the terminal is FRAGILE. torquing on the terminal to remove a stuck clamp, hammering on the terminal to install a clamp, stacking batteries on top of each other in the store or warehouse can all cause the fragile seal to fail.

The only solution is to replace it. The battery should not leak on bit around the post, it should be corrosion free.
Get a new battery. treat batteries gently Do not acdept any leaks, it is not normal. accept nothing less.

I have cleaned the battery terminal with acid neutralizing cleaner. They are clean ... and then they corrode in days.

THanks will do ... I have noticed this ever since the store that I re-buy warrantied batteries at has changed brands. Now INterstate batteries

I like Interstate Batteries, let us know what the solution is.

What you are looking for is (non-conductive) dielectric grease my man. Coat both battery terminals with the stuff. It'll help your issue. It's only a few dollars, try it.

for what battery terminals cost, I would get two military grade ones. Install them and grease them well. I would do that with a lot of other XJ parts as they get old. It's just good maintenance.