Welding could damage computer?

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

I'm hoping to get another tab welded onto my bullbar (for flag) but I've been warned if not done correctly it could lead to damage of the computer. Anyone know how this works and what would be the correct procedure?

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

If you disconnect your earth and positive leads then it shouldn't get any current to anything electronic. That's what i'd do at home if i was welding something on the car just to be safe.

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

What he siad.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I think you will find its a bit of an old husbands tale, so long as the wedding earth is well secured its a million to one shot to cause an issue.

There are literally tens of thousands of guys around the world running mobile welding setups and welding all the time on the back of their trucks without disconnecting any battery leads, it's a non issue for all these guys.

I've welded on my Prado quite a few times without disconnecting anything and not had an issue.

But hey, disconnect the earth lead if it makes you feel better.

Cheers Andrew

[OziOffroad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OziOffroad]

I've actually destroyed an ECU while welding mig welding on a vehicle, but it was a Nissan Pulsar so not sure if that counts:lol: (mind you we're making and assumption as the vehicle wouldn't start after some rear end body repairs.... could have been a random!)

Make sure the earth is good (clean) and close to the weld as practical.

Mick

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

It's not just the ECU, a poorly connected or placed welding earth can cause problems with mechanical components as the current finds its way to earth.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello Rainman,

This has been an issue ever since alternators ( with electronic diodes ) were fitted to vehicles, most welding tradesmen ( persons? ) have suitable surge suppression equipment to connect across the battery to protect all electronic components from random current surges. even connecting surge protected jumper leads to the battery will protect the ECU. Standard disclaimers apply. Dont blame me, I did not do it etc.

regards

Ross

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

As AJ said , it is an old husbands tale , i owned an exhaust shop for 16 years and Never disconnected a battery to weld , i used an antizap device across the battery when i did anyway, and also disconnecting a battery in modern cars can cause more issues for you now if the modules in the car are not depowered correctly
i.e a VF Commodore , if its not done right you can wipe the memory from the bcm etc , any only a dealer can re write it

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

And there's nothing like an electrical question to bring out a range of different opinions. :lol:

Welder does oil rig and deep sea work, so not sure he'll be set up for protecting the electrics of my high tech 95 series but it seems like disconnecting the batteries might be the least that should be done to cover all possible eventualities. Cheers

[RanJ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close RanJ]

Your 95 is completely safe. Don't stress it.

[JKAF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JKAF]

I've had some brackets welded to my aluminum bullbar recently with no issues. As mentioned by others, disconnected the batteries and the guy doing the welding made sure the earth clamp was close to the weld and secure.

[Ghost Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ghost]

When I welded my rear bar tabs on I took the precaution of disconnecting the pos and neg earth from the battery, may Or May not matter, but they even do it for our heavy mining equipment, really it's quick to do just a pain going through and resetting the power windows etc. but why take the risk


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[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

they all say it doesn't have any effect on what your welding ( pretty much every exhaust shop will weld straight on the car without disconnecting anything)
i have just replaced the power steering ram and a brand new race car that leaked on start up
i called the company and he said they must have welded on the car and it has arked through the bronze bushings to the shafts

when i pulled it apart that is exactly what i found $600 later & 2 weeks for the parts and it was fixed
now the bypass shocker shafts have the same issue about $240 to fix each shock ( the shocks were $2000 ea !!)

dont put the earth on the rear of the car if your welding the front, put it on the item your welding it to and start the arc on the part that has the earth !!!



i will tell you this
if you take the time to properly fit the earth point as close as practical to where your welding it SHOULD be fine
but hindsight is a wonderful thing
that is my opinion !!

in a past life i used to weld up submarines, but they all sink ! so now i build race cars that run down the Finke !!