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I welded a exhaust on a Tahoe when I started it up the abs light came on and the rear wiper came on and it would not shut off untill you turned the hazard lights on and then off … My coworker sugested dissconect the battery so I did and when I reconnected it the auto start engauged and the gauges on the instrument panel go nuts…Ugh
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Did you have the battery disconnected and all the computers on the vehicle disconnected when you welded?
No …I have been welding on cars for 3 years and this is a first ..and Im thinking the same thing that maybe the computer fried {but you would think it would have a safe gaurd for that} or a bad ground
It’s pretty rare to fry a vehicle’s electronics from welding, but it does happen. When it does happen, it’s most likely due to a poor/dirty ground on the welder, or mounting the ground too far away from where the welding is being done. Even with a good close ground, some tig welders and plasma cutters can set up a fairly strong high-frequency field that can fry sensitive electronics.
Most of the automakers have put a TSB out warning of this issue with specific models. But typically muffler and trailer shops never disconnect the battery, and it works out… most of the time.
I feel sick about it and want to make it right…He did say he had his liftgate replaced and the rear wiper never worked after that …now it wont stop working
That’s a tough situation and I’m sorry you’re having to deal with it. As suggested it might have something to do with the welding. It makes the most sense since it happened after you finished the welding. That said, if it is an electrical issue caused by the welding, I’d be looking at the control units as they are the most vulnerable to that type of damage. You might be able to check them with the right scan tool. I’d be taking the closest look at the BCM when it comes in.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I’m on vacation but I stopped in the shop for an update and he didn’t return yet… I think he may have gone back to the guy he had put the liftgate on and his wiper stopped working… If I replace the bcm is there a learn process or is it a plug and play
Keep a close eye on the wire harness a long the frame rail. I can tell you that maybe a connector melted or got hot, but the rear wiper wiring and ground should all run inside. Did you make sure that the battery is charged and is the remote start gm or aftermarket?
I think it’s the EBCM ground. The EBCM ground is located on the frame beneath the driver’s side door. If you have multiple grounds there, the EBCM ground will be the heavy 12 gauge wire.
Clean the area front and back using a rotating wire brush or a rotating sanding disk.I don’t know the specifics on installing a new BCM but before you go there and throw parts at it I think it’s worth checking it’s operation first. Most modern BCM’s will set codes just like an engine computer. I’d start there before you started planning on replacing the BCM.
Enjoy your vacation and check in when you get the chance.
He never came back …but another one came in today an 05 with the same problem….waky gauges ,air bag light on,3 windows wont work abs light on ,battery light on and no communication with BCM
Never got a chance to work on it or look at it he had to go to work and never returned …but the one that came in today {same problem} cleaned the ground,and checked BCM codes and there was no communication with verus or other scanners…I work in a different shop every day {5 shops} so this will be gone by the time I get back there hopefully…the only drawback is I wont get to fix it 🙁
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