Arc welding on frame - electrical problems?

[misterW]

Considering doing some welding repairs near the bumper on my 94 ranger.

Assuming the battery is disconnected, am I at risk of frying any electrical components?

If so, what steps can I take to prevent this?

 

[CHKNFKR]

You'll be fine. If it makes you feel better keep your ground close to where you're working.

Usually i don't even bother disconnecting the battery...

 

[4x4mike2004]

I'll second that, i've welded on the truck plenty of times without disconecting the electronis, and as long as you have a good ground close to the work site yopu will be fine

 

[CHKNFKR]

I've been known to weld on my truck while its running....

 

[06RangerXLT]

only you CHKN... lol

it really is personal preference. you can fry things, but you should be ok.

 

[Insanejughead]

It works kinda like birds sitting on a power line, right? As long as the computer/electrical components aren't the bridge between the positive and negative connection in the welding/grounding then there shouldn't be any worries.


I haven't welded on my pickup yet, but I have used a oxy/acetylene torch on the rivets that hold the rear cab mounts in place.

I placed a running garden hose with a mist sprayer on the fuel tank, though...

 

[MrE_Powers]

i have welded on my truck with out the battery discoed and nothing happened. but after welding on my taurus exhaust i have had a few electrical gremlins show up in the airbag sensor,brake switch, cruise control switch, and a window motor in the right rear quit working.

 

[4x4junkie]

You'll be fine. If it makes you feel better keep your ground close to where you're working.

Usually i don't even bother disconnecting the battery...

This is the key right here. As long as the welding current has a direct path back to your machine (without opportunity to seek "other routes" back to ground), you shouldn't have any issues.
I always try to attach the ground to the very piece of metal I'm welding on when possible (not to something that's bolted to the piece I'm welding, etc.).

Also, keep your cables as straight and in the clear as possible (not coiled up or looped over or in the vicinity of other wiring).

 

[DRanger024]

This is the key right here. As long as the welding current has a direct path back to your machine (without opportunity to seek "other routes" back to ground), you shouldn't have any issues.
I always try to attach the ground to the very piece of metal I'm welding on when possible (not to something that's bolted to the piece I'm welding, etc.).

Also, keep your cables as straight and in the clear as possible (not coiled up or looped over or in the vicinity of other wiring).

this

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I did some welding on the frame area of my F-150 last year working on gettting a plow mount fixed up. I thought I had a good ground and left the battery connected, but once the cold weather hit, my battery started acting up - it would have to be jumped on cold days but it would test good. I ended up testing the alternator, changing the battery terminals, adding a second ground cable, etc to no avail. Ended up arguing with a manager until they warrantied my battery. Now if it's anything more than a short tack or the like, the battery cable gets yanked.

But maybe the issue was more that I was welding near the battery....

I had some welding done on my Ranger with the battery connected and it never bothered it a bit. But that was to repair a cracked transmission crossmember.

 

[jhammel85]

Like a few others have said, keep the ground close and maybe disconnect the battery if you really feel its necessary. I've done it numerous times on my truck and few others. You should be OK