Lighting Strikes

[adsm08]

Is there any way to tell if a vehicle has been hit by lightning? Some visual cue that might not be obvious like blown out tires or melted wiring?

I'm working on one right now that has multiple modules that are shorted to ground internally, and at least one that is shorting the run and accessory pins of the ignition switch to power. It happened while the vehicle was left to sit unused for several months, and I can find no evidence of rodents, wiring damage, or the other usual suspects.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any more subtle visual cues I may be able to look for.

 

[Bgunner]

What about char marks form the electricity jumping to ground?

 

[Uncle Gump]

I don't know if I've ever seen that...

How about if some good old boy tow truck driver pulled up and tried to get it started and hit it with 24 volts?

 

[adsm08]

What about char marks form the electricity jumping to ground?

That's the kind of thing I'm interested in, but I've never dealt with one that I know for sure was hit.

I don't know if I've ever seen that...

How about if some good old boy tow truck driver pulled up and tried to get it started and hit it with 24 volts?

Well we do know they tried to jump it. Most tow truck drivers around here carry jump boxes rather than doing it off the truck though.

 

[19Walt93]

We had a couple of lightening victims over the years, modules were fried everywhere. Once we replaced the modules we didn't have any burnt wiring, apparently the modules took all the punishment.

 

[Ramcharger90]

Is there any way to tell if a vehicle has been hit by lightning? Some visual cue that might not be obvious like blown out tires or melted wiring?

I'm working on one right now that has multiple modules that are shorted to ground internally, and at least one that is shorting the run and accessory pins of the ignition switch to power. It happened while the vehicle was left to sit unused for several months, and I can find no evidence of rodents, wiring damage, or the other usual suspects.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any more subtle visual cues I may be able to look for.

Is it a jeep Patriot? My buddy just went through the same thing with a Patriot that sat for months unused and the computer somehow wiped every module out. Dont know how but besides maybe moisture.

 

[RobbieD]

Is there any way to tell if a vehicle has been hit by lightning? Some visual cue that might not be obvious like blown out tires or melted wiring?

If it was occupied when struck, there will be a large brown stain on the seat.

 

[Ramcharger90]

We had a couple of lightening victims over the years, modules were fried everywhere. Once we replaced the modules we didn't have any burnt wiring, apparently the modules took all the punishment.

Maybe thats what happened to that jeep also.

 

[Dirtman]

I've seen several boats hit by lightning, and I mean small boats under 50 foot. It just passes through them with no effect.

Never seen a car hit... but a car is a rolling faraday cage.

 

[Bgunner]

Found this from the discovery channel about a SUV being hit and shows the mark in the rim from where it exited. time mark 1:51-1:55

 

[Ramcharger90]

Well we do know they tried to jump it. Most tow truck drivers around here carry jump boxes rather than doing it off the truck though.

That seems like the more likely scenario thats how the computer got fried in a 99 international eagle I was driving for a while. Thing was toasted and then after the company fixed it it had 0 miles on it thanks to the new computer lol

 

[black_demon69]

saw a 04 chevy silverado that got struck by lightening. you could see the entry and exit marks in the paint. the battery all modules and sensors relays some fuses and bulbs were blown.. didnt get too far with it as the insurance totaled it !!!!!

 

[ericbphoto]

Definitely sounds like lightning or a bad jump start. I've never actually worked a vehicle like that, though. Lightning does weird things, though.

 

[adsm08]

Thanks guys.

I've had to get Ford's tech hotline involved because the issues this car had were just too big for me to wrap my head around all at once while on a timer. In my initial contact with them I brought up the failed attempt to jump start the car, noting that from the customer's description of events it appears the issue was already present when they tried jumping it. Hotline brought up the possibility of a lighting strike.

With all the diodes and such built into the systems on these cars these days I doubt a single even of hooking up a jump pack backwards would do all this damage.

 

[Dirtman]

I'm no where near the mechanic @adsm08 is but aren't most systems disconnected via the ground and not battery positive. Any system not grounded should not be effected by a strike on the body. Those systems are isolated from the body during a strike so no voltage should touch them. Correct?