Welding...

[unccpathfinder]

i've rarely done any welding but im fixing to weld some stuff on my 95 in the cab area...my question is mainly how does this effect the electrical system...i know u can easily fry marine equipment by welding on a boat if it is grounded to whatever ure welding to...

 

so is this the case on cars...do i need to unhook eveyrthing or what...i really dont want to toast anything esp the ecu

[jj big shoe]

Dunno for sure but I welded patches for the rust in the rear wheel wells and rockers behind the doors plus put new cups in for the compression rod bushings w/o any zap problems. Maybe unhook the battery first and clamp the ground lead from the welder as close to where you're working as you can.

[mws]

It's one of those things - most of the time, nothing will happen. And many of us have gotten away with it. I have. But I know I am gambling.

 

Because SOME of the time, things will get fried due to voltage spikes entering the wiring system. To reduce chances of frashnizzling things, disconnect the battery.

 

And if you really want to reduce the risks, also disconnect (unplug) sensitive and expensive electronic items like ECU's and stereos.

[RedPath88]

And the MAF sensor , just because they are not cheap and are dealer only items (amoung other things, that one just came to mind right away)

[unccpathfinder]

alrighty...sounds good...yea i was def thinking of unplugging everything important...i just know i was talking to a buncha guys about welding on T tops and what not on nice boats and most of them at one pt or another fried their radios b/c of the antena still being hooked in and/or the ground