Help Lightning Strike!
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: FL
Help Lightning Strike!
We had to park our Lexus 350 ES on the street because our driveway was torn up waiting for concrete to be poured once we got a non-rainy day. On June 29th a lightning strike occurred on or close to our vehicle. The next day, my wife approached the car and it did not react by opening the door. When I got home from work, I used the manual key to enter the vehicle and pushed the start button only to hear the motor turn over but not start. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and it has been there over two weeks without any clear diagnosis as to damage. Our collision coverage covers lightning strikes with a $500 deductible. I hear Lexus cars can have as many as 40 computers which could be affected and diagnosis is very difficult. My car, in excellent shape, could wind up being totaled! Has anyone else had to deal with this and what was the outcome?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
You know i'm not a mechanic at all, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But had it been me, I would have tried disconneting the battery and then reconnecting the battery to give the electrical system a chance to reset. If that didn't work then I would have had it towed to the dealership. Whatever it is, I hope they get it all lined out for you . Good luck. and keep us posted. Def. want to know what happened.
We had to park our Lexus 350 ES on the street because our driveway was torn up waiting for concrete to be poured once we got a non-rainy day. On June 29th a lightning strike occurred on or close to our vehicle. The next day, my wife approached the car and it did not react by opening the door. When I got home from work, I used the manual key to enter the vehicle and pushed the start button only to hear the motor turn over but not start. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership and it has been there over two weeks without any clear diagnosis as to damage. Our collision coverage covers lightning strikes with a $500 deductible. I hear Lexus cars can have as many as 40 computers which could be affected and diagnosis is very difficult. My car, in excellent shape, could wind up being totaled! Has anyone else had to deal with this and what was the outcome?
Do post as to how this turns out and best of luck!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 422
From: Alberta
If you've ever watched any of the lifestyle sailing, "live-aboard" youtubes you'll know that a lightning strike, even if only close to a sailboat or powerboat rather than directly on it, is capable of knocking out radar, AIS, radios, weather instruments, gps, and self-steering; or even blowing a hole through the fibreglass at the bottom of a mast. Is why I turn off and disconnect my computer when the gods start bowling. Agree, it would be interesting to know the outcome of this incident.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Infrared
RC - 1st Gen (2015-present)
49
Jun 29, 2015 10:10 PM