Welding on car with ECM concerns.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Welding on car with ECM concerns. I've got some welding to do on my second Gen f body that I've got an 05 LS2/4L65E in and I'm wondering what if anything needs to be done beforehand with the computer to protect it from the electrical current of the welding process.
Anybody have any advice or insight into this matter before I weld on this car?
Thanks all.
Anybody have any advice or insight into this matter before I weld on this car?
Thanks all.
I always unplug the ecm/bcm and if welding within a few feet remove it, Some people say it's not needed and others have replied to the same topic saying they had problems. I figure it's not that hard to do most of the time and I'd rather be safe than sorry as the saying goes.
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 426
Likes: 45
From: ohio
If you can remember to ground the welder to what you are welding to, you will be safe. If you are welding the exhaust and ground to the body this is the sort of thing that gets you in trouble. The welder current needs to go through the body ground to get to the engine block and to the exhaust , this is an issue creates problems. If vital electronics provide an easier way to complete the welding circuit, then you will have issues whether the battery is disconnected or not.
If you are welding on the door and ground to the rocker panel, the current needs to pass through the door hinge, or possibly through the wiring that grounds the door accessories to the body. Being aware of what you are welding and where the ground strap is connected is the key to not allowing the welding current to find its way through vital electronics to the torch head.
Ground to only what you are welding to snd make sure what you ground to is passing the current only to what you are welding to.
If you are welding on the door and ground to the rocker panel, the current needs to pass through the door hinge, or possibly through the wiring that grounds the door accessories to the body. Being aware of what you are welding and where the ground strap is connected is the key to not allowing the welding current to find its way through vital electronics to the torch head.
Ground to only what you are welding to snd make sure what you ground to is passing the current only to what you are welding to.
Last edited by cdk4219; May 20, 2022 at 10:13 PM.
I've got some welding to do on my second Gen f body that I've got an 05 LS2/4L65E in and I'm wondering what if anything needs to be done beforehand with the computer to protect it from the electrical current of the welding process.
Anybody have any advice or insight into this matter before I weld on this car?
Thanks all.
Anybody have any advice or insight into this matter before I weld on this car?
Thanks all.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Man I know I should just unplug the two (ECM, TCM) and just be done with it but where I mounted them behind the fender driver's side on the cowl there are a real pain to get my hand In there. What I plan to weld is a support plate to the shimpack/bolt side of the upper control arm mount. It's a reinforcement plate to go along with the oversized hole and bolt drilled on the front bolt to handle the added G bar braces that will apply forces to that area never intended to see forces in this direction.
so technically I could ground off right there by the weld area, but will current really be localized in that area and have no effect to the rest of the car?
BTW thanks all yall for the time of looking and chatting up yals experience with the matter. Really appreciate it from all yall.
so technically I could ground off right there by the weld area, but will current really be localized in that area and have no effect to the rest of the car?
BTW thanks all yall for the time of looking and chatting up yals experience with the matter. Really appreciate it from all yall.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
I know right. I think back to getting my down pipes welded after fitting them up, and b4 I got my welder. The place I took them too didn't do anything b4 he started welding. But ignorance is bliss I guess because I don't think I mentioned to him about have an 05 LS2 from a GTO in there so I'm sure he just saw old car. Guess I'll never know if that would have made a difference to him. Hell who am I kidding I know it wouldn't have.... lol
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