Induction heating is a loosening technology that protects expensive electrical terminals and fasteners during disassembly operations.

Stubborn fasteners are an unpleasant fact in car life. However, improper handling of frozen fastener removal may not only damage nuts, bolts, and threads.

It may also damage important electrical terminals and wiring. Let us review the function of induction heating.

 I discussed this method for the first time in a column on January 21 at the beginning of this year. Induction Innovations makes Mini-Ductor the most popular tool for this type of car repair work.

This compact power tool has a replaceable heating element called a working coil. The company provides various working coils to suit a wide range of fasteners. 

When you put the working coil on the nut or bolt, it quickly but safely heats the fastener. The heat releases the fastener by breaking the corrosive adhesive that holds the fastener.

Mini-Ductor eliminates the two risks of traditional cutting torches, thus saving time and money.

First, induction heating does not damage the hardware or its threads, so technicians can reuse existing nuts and bolts. Second, this method does not cause "collateral damage" because it does not heat and freeze non-metallic materials near the fastener.

Shane Myron is a technician at Richard's Garage in Akron, Ohio. Recently, he cited the use of induction heating when the transaxle was removed from the 2010 GMC Terrain. A bolt with a stud at the end caused a problem.

Traditional bolts usually fasten the transaxle to the engine. However, Mr. Myron explained that a stud protruded from one of the drive axle bolts.

The main grounding cable of the electrical system, equipped with a large eyelet terminal, is connected to this stud.

The nut securing the eyelet terminal to the stud is frozen.

The nut securing the eyelet terminal to the stud was frozen; a large coolant hose and wiring harness partially blocked the stud and nut.

When Mr. Myron tried to loosen the nut, the nut did not move. Instead, the entire bolt began to turn, and at the same time twisted the ground cable eyelet. Now, the holes and/or frayed copper strands in this important grounding cable are at risk of breaking.

A common method is to fix the bolt head with an open-end wrench and loosen the nut on the bolt at the same time. But there is not enough space to do this.

Mr. Myron has a Mini-Ductor and can manipulate its working coil onto a frozen nut. Heat the nut for only 15 seconds to loosen it. Now he easily removed the nut, ground cable and transaxle bolt.

Obviously, repairing or replacing damaged cables will increase the time and cost of the entire work.

Mr. Myron can heat the nuts with an ordinary torch. However, it is difficult to effectively protect the fragile parts near it—difficult at best. Temporarily moving parts out of the hazardous area can take time.

In short, don't underestimate the value of induction heating freeze fasteners.

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