I'm about to do some welding on my tow bar brackets (whilst on the vehicle)

And after reading a few topics in the past, where after having welding preformed on on their cars, people have reported various electrical systems no longer work, I'm just wondering what precautions I should take to stop burning out any wiring.

 

Here's what I'm going to do so far:

Disconnect both battery terminals,

Disconnect ECU connectors,

Keep the welder's ground terminal clamp as close as possible to the area to be welded.

 

Is there anything else I can do to avoid damaging the cars electrical system?

13 hours ago, R_U_AFA said:

Is there anything else I can do to avoid damaging the cars electrical system?

Use gas welding rather than an electric arc system?

Leave everything connected, that way the protection built into all the electronic circuitry is able function but it wont be put to the test with what you are doing.

 

I would however have already removed either of the battery terminals and refitted it loosely leaving the spanner beside it to hand, just in case the worst happens and you melt an unfused power cable, if you are only welding to the towbar you should be safe.

Edited 14 August, 20232 yr by J.R.

Ok, thanks. I was going to do it today, but bad weather seems to have moved in again.

Are you welding up the bolted joints that connect the transverse box section to the flat plates that go inside the chassis members?

 

After far too much abuse the towbar on my MK1 would regularly work loose and rotate about that joint, I welded it on the car.

Edited 14 August, 20232 yr by J.R.

On 14/08/2023 at 10:22, J.R. said:

Are you welding up the bolted joints that connect the transverse box section to the flat plates that go inside the chassis members?

They're plates that go inside the chassis legs?

Mine just bolts through with washers on the inside.

Completely different vehicles, my mistake 😒

 

My last 3 Skodas have all had the same design of towbar and fixing methods, because the vehicles are so similar I am guilty of making wrong assumptions especially as I no see you have a Felicia.

@J.R. ok, I was just getting worried then that mine wasn't probably fitted.

I must admit that there isn't much thickness to the metal of the chassis legs on the felicia, I could see over time them fatiguing and featuring.