Bad Ground / Lightning Damage
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Likes: 2
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Bad Ground / Lightning Damage
I don't have a problem anymore, just looking to see what people think of the situation I just had with my truck.
This past week I was at a campground, and there was a really bad thunderstorm. I swear there was a direct lightning hit somewhere on the campground. The sound was almost unbelievable. A lot of electronics and electrical stuff was damaged at the campground office.
Anyway, the next morning I went to start my truck. When I turned the key, nothing happened. The lights/radio,instrument cluster all lit up, but no crank. Plugged in my scan tool and it wouldn't read the computer, said turn key to on or start position. So the PCM wasn't powering up. Luckily a local Ford dealer was able to solve the problem, a broken ground for the PCM.
Here is my question, is it possible that the lightning strike did this. I've read a lot of conflicting information online about lightning strikes and cars. I would think that if lightning did strike a car, the energy would go into the grounding system. This is really just a curiosity for me, the truck is fixed. It just seems like a really big coincidence to have a huge lighting strike and then have an electrical problem with my truck. Especially with a ground, which is what I assume would take the strike.
So what is your opinion on this.
Thanks.
This past week I was at a campground, and there was a really bad thunderstorm. I swear there was a direct lightning hit somewhere on the campground. The sound was almost unbelievable. A lot of electronics and electrical stuff was damaged at the campground office.
Anyway, the next morning I went to start my truck. When I turned the key, nothing happened. The lights/radio,instrument cluster all lit up, but no crank. Plugged in my scan tool and it wouldn't read the computer, said turn key to on or start position. So the PCM wasn't powering up. Luckily a local Ford dealer was able to solve the problem, a broken ground for the PCM.
Here is my question, is it possible that the lightning strike did this. I've read a lot of conflicting information online about lightning strikes and cars. I would think that if lightning did strike a car, the energy would go into the grounding system. This is really just a curiosity for me, the truck is fixed. It just seems like a really big coincidence to have a huge lighting strike and then have an electrical problem with my truck. Especially with a ground, which is what I assume would take the strike.
So what is your opinion on this.
Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,206
Likes: 3
From: Oakhust NJ Jersey Shore
I can't see it, just one ground and no damage to any electronic parts? could it just have been time for that ground to fall off or corrode off. I had a direct hit in my truck waiting for a storm to pass, yes its loud. After changing my underwear, started the truck right up and drove home, still going today. this was about 2 years ago. but you never know, i'm sure we all have seen weird things.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 18
Like David said, a vehicle is a good place to be in an electrical storm because the tires insulate it from the ground. I agree the problem appears to be co-incidental. Its not a bad idea to go over the truck every year or so, find all the grounds you can and treat each one with a little 'Corrosion-X'.
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