5.4 Welding on vehicle
Welding work on the vehicle frame should be limited to the absolute minimum and only be carried out if necessary.
Before carrying out welding work on the vehicle, the vehicle battery should be disconnected. If, with the battery disconnected, concealed cables are damaged, short circuits could result in serious damage.
If using electrical welding equipment, the earth clamp of the equipment should be attached directly to the vehicle part that is to be welded. The high current and resulting voltage peaks could otherwise lead to damage in the mechanical and electronic components of the vehicle.
The work should only be carried out using shielded arc welding.
In exceptional circumstances, well-dried electrode rods - 2.5 mm - can be used with lime based casing.
If welding-in additional consoles, etc., weld only in the so-called neutral zone. A plug weld should always be chosen as a preference. Avoid welding seams across the frame.
Note:
The heat stress caused by welding causes the anti-corrosion layer in the area of the weld to be diminished. Therefore, it should be reapplied using appropriate measures.
