Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 2015 09:15:26 -0700
Reply-To:     Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Welding on Van - ECU consequences?
Comments: To: Steve Williams <steve@williamsitconsulting.com>
In-Reply-To:  <55E71053.7080802@williamsitconsulting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

     If I were in a shop environment and someone asked me to unplug the ECU
for a procedure that I do on a daily basis and is not the norm in the
industry because it is just not an issue, I would send the customer
packing. What would happen if the Service guy somehow had something break
while he was doing it or was heavy handed and bent one of the pins or dust
from grinding got up inside the The ECU or its plug. If I was hungry for
work and needed this job at a minimum I would make it a line item(with a
fee) and have the customer sign off that any running issues pertaining to
the ECU is strictly on the Customer.
     Been down roads like this before ,and they rarely turn out well.


                                                        Stacy

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 8:05 AM, Steve Williams <
steve@williamsitconsulting.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> I'm a bit shy about electrical components NOT being isolated in the
> presence of un-anticipated voltages, even if if there is no complete
> circuit.
>
> This all started when I found out that it's possible to find out how far
> away a break in a cable is using electricity (signal waves), even when
> there's a break in the cable and no complete circuit!
>
> Here's hoping they unplug the ECU.  I had to leave my van @ the shop,
> but I had them write explicitly on the work order to unplug the ECU
> prior to any welding.
>
> I did wrap some string around the ECU plug so I'll know if they did or
> not!  lol.
>
> Thanks again,
> Steve W.
>
>
> On 01/09/2015 10:26 PM, Steve Williams wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am taking my van in tomorrow for a bit of patching on my exhaust
>> system.
>>
>> It suddenly occurred to me that they may be using an electric welder on
>> my vehicle rather than a gas welder.
>>
>> Is it recommended/mandatory to unplug the ECU if electric
>> (arc/mig/tig/etc) welding is being done on a 1991 Westfalia?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve W.
>>
>


--
   1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
    Oldest son is an Eagle scout.