Repairing and upgrading cars can’t be done without wielding a torch. Attaching the metal components and fixing the metals, welding does the job perfectly.
But do you know its downsides? How badly does it affect your car? Scroll down to the end and know about its major harmful effects. And also some effective ways to get rid of these harms, a detailed guide for keeping the welding damage far away from the vehicle’s electronic components.
Can Welding On A Cause Damage?
Its accurate answer would be Yes, it severely affects your car. Welding is the process of putting electricity on the metal to repair or upgrade it. As we know metal of the car is connected with the electronic equipment, which results in fried electronics of the car.
Now the answer is yes, but do you know you can save the car and successfully upgrade it as well?
Here are some ways you religiously have to follow to limit the juices to go through electronics.
Why Does Welding On A Car Cause Damage
The process of welding comprises creating heat from a welding torch to the specific metal that needs repairing or upgrading. Now, the big downside is this electric current spreads across the related material you’re working on.
And connected electronics get highly affected by the electric current, which results in heavy damage to their functioning power.
Which Electronic Components We’re Talking About?
Do you know that your car’s performance heavily depends on its Engine Control Unit? It’s a small electronic device to control and improve the engine’s performance.
During the welding, this computer device is more likely to get the electric current. That fails the engine. Then you should be ready to bear the expense of replacing the ECU.
Another vital electronic component is Airbags. If you don’t disconnect airbags before starting up with welding, an electric current might reach their module and cause a fire. It won’t be harmful only to airbags, but to the complete vehicle’s functionality.
We’ve come up with excellent tips for the safety of your car’s Engine Control Unit.
welding on a car precautions
During Welding on a Car frame, some things just keep in mind to protect the vehicle.
Welding is a necessary process that most probably applied during vehicle repairing such as rocker panel changes and Damage recovery.
So here is the list of some basic precautions for car welding:
- Be Careful to protect Engine Control Unit. Because it made by small transistors and electrodes that can be Damage with little heat. So better option is to unhook the ECU.
- All electronic devices disconnected from the car. Because welding will be harmful to them.
- Must disconnect car battery and also unplug electric cables.
- Airbags are such a sensitive component of a car. So find out airbag positions and remove them before start welding.
- During welding, take care of painted surfaces, glasses, moldings and interior.
Related Article: How To Replace Rocker Panels Without Welding?
How To Protect ECU While Welding On Your Car?
ECU needs an inconsiderable amount of power to function properly. Since this electric current through welding possesses high voltage, contact to ECU causes extensive damage. ECU can’t function properly or it may be damaged completely.
But with these following precautions, you can reduce or eliminate the harms of overvoltages. And the most important part is you’ll drive the vehicle excellently without feeling a bit of an ECU Effect.
We’re guiding you with each and every step to control electric current from reaching over to ECU.
Pull Out The Terminal
A Battery of a car comprises two terminals, one positive (+) and the other one termed as negative (-). If you’re not an expert in repairing cars, don’t worry, you can easily recognize them by colors.
Red has considered a positive whereas black color terminal is a negative one. Remove the red terminal with the help of a screwdriver, as it will reduce the current’s over voltages.
Ground The Particular Area
Grounding the metal you’re working on, keeps this electric current from reaching out to the ECU. By Attaching the essential ground to the particular metal, you’ll help evaporate the voltage and it’ll move it towards the ground. Here are some helpful grounding tools for maintaining the extended service life of ECU.
Hobart 770031 400-Amp T-Style Ground Clamp Brass
Improve welding procedure with this efficiently designed Amp T-Style Ground Clamp Brass. It brings ease with its upgraded t-style holding capacity, which keeps them strong and secure hold on metal surfaces. It can pull off the 400 Amps Electricity, you might need to add two more clamps to keep the overvoltages away from ECU.
Easy installation is the best-suited feature for people who don’t have any prior experience with the grounding tools. And it helps greatly in transferring current directly to the metal you’re working on without letting it make any contact with the ECU. It’s an efficient addition to your welding chores.
HITBOX G Ground Welding Earth Clamp0.75kg Full Cooper 400A High Standard Solid Brass Earth Clamp for Industrial Use
This high-standard earth clamp is constructed with strong brass to create the smooth conductivity of electricity. Its Arc is the major reason for quick strikes and speedy welding procedures. It tightens up 100% in any angle with the metal and provides accurate ground to pull out 400 Amps Electricity.
It offers three lock systems to tighten the screw sets. Ideal for metalworking applications, it’s the first choice when it comes to safe welding work. Plus, it resists the welding splatter from making any contact with vital electronic components.
Welding Ground Clamp 500A Electroplated Welding Earth Clip for Manual Welder Copper US Type
Holding one of the highest electric withdrawal rates, this ground clamp does the job perfectly. The Electroplated clamp with a rubber handle helps you in repairing or upgrading the car. Its sturdy design holds the capacity to withdraw overvoltages of 500 Amps, resulting in upgraded vehicles with strong engine power.
Equipped with high-class Copper it possesses excellent conductivity of voltage. Easy to use and simple to install, it keeps things effortlessly in check. Further, it’s an excellent replacement for manual welders. Exactly high-quality performance with reliable stability.
Disconnect The Electronics
Disconnecting the battery is not enough, critical electronics such as Airbags and ECU are most likely to be affected in the welding system. The residual energy in collateral circuits may not fry the electronics, still it affects the functioning power to a great extent. For this particular reason, you must take certain steps to assure the wellness of airbags.
How To Disconnect Airbags before welding?
Find the Airbags Module, its location differs from vehicle to vehicle. You don’t need to search for long, it could be presented in certain areas like:
- Underneath the floor surface of the radio.
- Below the passenger’s seat.
- Under the driver’s seat.
- Beneath the middle console and kick panel.
Search The SSR Computer Module
Often it’s located below the Middle Console, which is the area between the front seats, or on the flow of the center of dash. In most cases, you can find an SSR Computer Module under the passenger or driver’s seat.
Disconnect The Another + Battery Cable
When you detach the red terminal of the battery, disconnect the other positive battery cable. It ensures the entire disconnection of the battery, you should wait for at least half an hour for an unconsumed charge in the terminal to subside.
Loosen The Airbag Control Module
It’s a small computer module that controls the airbags’ deployment. The plastic box comprises enormous wiring plugs. Unplugging it saves vehicle airbags to attract fire during welding.
Last, Unhook The ECU
The major reason for all these mentioned steps is the safety of the ECU Panel. Even after being done with these, if you still feel that ECU is not completely preserved. Then disconnect it to control the harm coming in the way. It’s even recommended for an unaffected engine’s performance. Consider detaching the ECU under the detailed guidance.
Assure The Disconnected Battery Terminal
Confirmation that the negative terminal of the battery is properly detached. The battery must be tuned to negative. It’s a crucial step you can’t afford to avoid at any cost.
Find The Panel Of ECU
Most of the car’s ECU is placed beneath the glovebox at the front side. Remove the panel and get access to the Engine Control Unit.
Unplugging ECU
ECU is a metal box comprising a white speaker showing a four-digit code. Unplug the wiring from the back of the ECU. Most often it holds up with the powerful bracket to keep in place, 10mm Socket is an ideal tool for disconnecting this bracket. Now easily pull the ECU From The Glovebox Area.
You’re ready to use a welding procedure to repair or upgrade your car without affecting the Engine’s Functioning Power. By going through these precautions, you’ll be pleased with the car’s performance once you’re done with working on metal with the Welding Machine and the outstanding thing is without doing any harm to the ECU.
In Conclusion
Consists of conducting electric current from welding torch to the particular metal, welding procedure on the automobile might result in frying up its vital electronics such as Airbags and ECU. To stop the overvoltages from reaching out to the connected electronics, detaching them temporarily is an ideal option to save the Functioning Power Of ECU.
Follow the detailed guidelines for every specific step, and beautify your vehicle with welding work. With these beneficial guidelines, you’ll have an upgraded car and the most important thing is you can drive the car smoothly after being done with welding. Don’t forget to disconnect Airbags also, as they tend to catch the fire during welding work.
