Truck Got Hit By Lightning

[NV5600]

My truck and house were hit by lightning last night. I was more concerned with the burning smell of electronics inside the house. Once I assessed the damage inside, I went outside toward where the strike came from and found the radiator fan on my truck running full speed. I was able to start it but it absolutely runs terrible and every light on the dash is illuminated. I was able to pull a few codes just for the heck of it and here is what I got:

 

B2625

U1000

P0101,0300,0480 and 0481 (explains the fan) and P0609. The lightning hit the ground maybe 3 or 4 feet from the passenger side rear bumper. There is bark, mud and grass splattered all over the truck. The side of the bed has what looks like a perfect spot weld through the paint and a couple small dents where bark slammed into it. This is a real shame. It's a 2005 with only 45K easy miles. I'm afraid it'll never be right. I wonder about things with motors like the fuel pump, blower motor etc going bad sooner now than later.

 

I just had grumble a little. This is looking pretty bad.

[hockeypro1411]

Pictures?!

[RyanbabZ71]

That sucks, last nights storms were pretty bad (lightning) they rolled through Indiana also

[redvett]

Call your insurance company its going to cost $$$$

[BigBlueLB756]

Hope you can get it fixed up, but preserve the physical evidence of the strike. What a tale to show!

[NV5600]

Pictures?!

 

Oh yeah...

 

 

 

 

The picture of the mirror is amazing. The debris was blasted around and behind the glass. The fender picture shows the dents if you look carefully.

[AirForceAngler]

Holy Chit!

[RyanbabZ71]

How did the house fare?

[brianf60]

Make sure you run it through insurance. I have repaired a few vehicles that have been hit by lightning and it is always an expensive repair. Generally once all the visible problems have been repaired and the vehicle can be driven more issuses appear. The bill is generally in the thousands. As for long term problems I have seen none, so I wouldn't let that worry you...

[NV5600]

How did the house fare?

 

I did lose some electronics. Two 32" tube TVs got cooked. I also lost two DirecTivos so I guess it is time to upgrade the DirecTV to HD. I lost my main HF amateur transceiver (Yaesu FT990) as well. It wasn't even connected to any antennas and the power cord was in a commercial computer grade surge supressor. The concussion knocked my cuckoo clock off the wall but it seems to be ok. We're debating whether or not to have the fender repaired or leave it (clearcoat over it) as a war wound. It just so happened that I looked out the bay window and saw what looked like a glow or fire outside as the strike was happening.

[BigBlueLB756]

Just glad you and yours are OK. Magnum DC can rock your world,

[palukie]

Hey Randy,

First off glad that you and your family are ok. Last year in July , while ca,ping up in Flagstaff Az , my truck was taken out by the EMP Field of a Lightening Stike that hit the tree near my truck. After the dealer got the truck and talked to the insurance company - they decided to total the truck. The dealership would not warranty the work because of the strike. My truck was only 4 yrs old with 65k miles on it. All I can say is think about it if they decide to fix it. I didn't want any little Gremlins in my electrical system later down the road, because they would only fix what was wrong which I don't know down the road what might go wrong. Let us know what happens. I still have the chunk of tree that hit my truck and trailer.

[cmackvr6]

Im an insurance agent. I had a client last year that had his Caddy STS hit by lightning. It turned out to be a total loss.

 

My advice would be to call your insurance agent and get a claim going a.s.a.p.

 

Good luck to you.

[dzj]

Indeed get your car insurance involved. We had a lighting strike at work last year, and a bolt hit the parking lot. Cooked all the electronics in a Bonneville, and most of the electronics in an Explorer. Insurance totalled the Bonneville. It could get very expensive, very fast. That "war wound" is neat though. I would clear it and leave it on tthere if the truck isn't totalled out.

[YZINGERR]

Wow, that is crazy!