[BobNYC]

So here's what happened....

Last Thursday I drove about 60 miles to the Jersey shore. Truck ran fine. Parked on street adjacent to the beach.

Thursday afternoon there was a thunderstorm to beat all thunderstorms. Seriously, one of the worst I've seen in the many years we've been going to the shore. At one point, the wife and I heard a crack of thunder that was REAL close...shook the house, which is just across the street from where I parked.

Went out to the truck Saturday morning...wouldn't start. Tried jumping it...nothing. Had it towed to the dealer I've had service the truck for the entire 10 years I've owned it.

They called me later and said the IPDM was totally fried. I mentioned all this info to them and they said lightning could certainly do that.

There's no physical evidence that I can see of a lightning strike but I wonder if the lightning struck even close to the truck if it could have done the damage.

Life is always full of surprises!

 

[dkmura]

Wow- if true, it was fortunate your house didn't get hit. As for your Titan, usually a truck is insulated by having all four tires on the ground. But the electronic systems are always activated and could have taken a hit even if the hit was nearby (and not direct).

 

[Pale Rider]

that was the beach Gods telling the Benny`s to go home! lol...

anyway on a serious note, yeah I believe that, a strong charge and bam, lights out...

weird that the ECU survived though.

 

[BobNYC]

Not sure the ECU did survive...yet. The IPDM was the one thing they found when they talked with me on the phone. I will hopefully learn the full extent of the damage tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

And it was raining SO hard, I wonder if the rain water pouring off the truck could have completed an electrical circuit with the ground.

 

[Pale Rider]

Not sure the ECU did survive...yet. That was the one thing they found when they talked with me on the phone. I will hopefully learn the full extent of the damage tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

And it was raining SO hard, I wonder if the rain water pouring off the truck could have completed an electrical circuit with the ground.

glad you guys are ok, but that is def weird, hope they get is squared away. which dealer is it at?

 

[BobNYC]

It's at Koeppel Nissan in Jackson Height, Queens.

 

[TitanBlue]

Lightening very nearby could fry electronics. A Pulse of energy, Electro Magnetic Interference will do that. Lightening is a very high voltage, many thousands.

 

[Indy]

Lightening very nearby could fry electronics. A Pulse of energy, Electro Magnetic Interference will do that. Lightening is a very high voltage, many thousands.

Yeap, I don't have any experience with automobiles being struck with lightening, but I have been around a few tractors that have. Fried all the electronics in them, of course they were out in a field where they are the tallest thing around and they were working ground at the time so hand an implement sunk down into the ground, making the entire thing well grounded. They all had cabs so the driver came out unharmed. First time I saw one, I fully understood why my dad always yelled at me as soon as it started to storm to get everything out of the ground and head back, don't bother trying to finish one last pass.

 

[BobNYC]

Here's an update...it appears that pretty much every control unit in the truck is fried. I notified the insurance company today and fortunately lightning is covered by my comprehensive coverage. They're sending an adjuster to inspect the truck this week. I'm hoping he'll total it.

 

[Pale Rider]

Here's an update...it appears that pretty much every control unit in the truck is fried. I notified the insurance company today and fortunately lightning is covered by my comprehensive coverage. They're sending an adjuster to inspect the truck this week. I'm hoping he'll total it.

wow, that sucks man!... I hope the cost for all the boxes don`t total out your truck...
is there any mention of unforseen issues after all that has been replaced?

good luck dude...

 

[BobNYC]

The mechanic estimates that replacement parts would cost at least $5,000. Blue Book on the vehicle is only about $6,000 so it remains to be seen what the insurance company says. Frankly, I would be concerned of ongoing issues if they try to fix it.

 

[BobNYC]

Final update.... The insurance company has totaled the truck so it looks like a new one is in my future.