Hit by Lightning

[jjoerger]

Last night, Saturday 4/28, we were driving west bound on I70 about 8 miles east of Effingham, IL in a severe storm with lots of lightning. Our truck took a direct lightning hit causing the gauges to go wild. Our speedometer has quit working and our transmissions electronics are fried. We can sometimes get it to shift into 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] or reverse. All the local repair shops are closed and the Freightliner dealer 80 miles away assures us they do not have the parts. We are stuck waiting until Monday morning when the International dealer across the highway opens.

We called our insurance company and filed a claim. They said they are not sure but it might be covered under our comprehensive coverage. It seems to me that it should be covered the same as hail damage or a tornado. Does anyone know or have first hand knowledge?

 

[davekc]

We had that happen and it fried the QC. Big burn spot on the top of the truck but no other damage. Don't know who you have for insurance, but it should be covered.

 

[jjoerger]

Don't know who you have for insurance, but it should be covered.

Progressive through CIS. I will be calling Shelly in the morning.

 

[paullud]

The same thing happened to my brother and the mechanic said one of the big issues is the truck is almost impossible to get back to 100% without replacing everything.

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[Dynamite 1]

hey you two, you are in my neck of the woods. im 30 miles north of you.
first off, if you need anything, let us know. we will be home through the middle of the week.
second, they can do ok work. we use to use them but started having go back issues, as in go back to fix something they already fixed. we have a great local shop up here that does all my work. good guy, been in bus. for along time, can do just about anything and 65.00 per hr labor. could make a call for ya if you want. could even get it up here reasonable if needed. towing service also.

check your PM

 

[jjoerger]

The same thing happened to my brother and the mechanic said one of the big issues is the truck is almost impossible to get back to 100% without replacing everything.

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The mechanic that we talked to was surprised that it was only the speedo and transmission.
We had it put on diagnostics at the TA and the only active problem is "SAE-J1939 Data Link-Data erratic, intermittent or incorrect."

 

[paullud]

hey you two, you are in my neck of the woods. im 30 miles north of you.
first off, if you need anything, let us know. we will be home through the middle of the week.
second, they can do ok work. we use to use them but started having go back issues, as in go back to fix something they already fixed. we have a great local shop up here that does all my work. good guy, been in bus. for along time, can do just about anything and 65.00 per hr labor. could make a call for ya if you want. could even get it up here reasonable if needed. towing service also.

check your PM

Can you send me the mechanic's info as well?

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[paullud]

The mechanic that we talked to was surprised that it was only the speedo and transmission.
We had it put on diagnostics at the TA and the only active problem is "SAE-J1939 Data Link-Data erratic, intermittent or incorrect."

Hopefully that is all it will be, my brother's truck wouldn't even start afterwards. I think those cables are around $700 or 800.

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[ATeam]

I don't know the answer to your insurance question. Regarding the damage, I suggest that you put every electrical circuit you can think of to the test, by itself and in conjunction with other circuits. Turn everything on and off, load every circuit up as much as you can and note the results. Test every light, fan speed, dashboard light, gauge, etc. Check every fuse too.

A power surge through the truck can do immediate and delayed damage. Semiconductors may be stressed today and continue to work, only to fail later. Before settling any claim, I'd get to a COMPETENT electrical technician who can test the ECM and other modules on the truck.

By the way, what is it like to be in a moving truck that gets struck by lightening?

 

[tryhours3191]

At least y'all are okay. Trucks can be repaired

Sent from my DROID RAZR

 

[mrgoodtude]

Progressive through CIS. I will be calling Shelly in the morning.

We stopped at KW after Mats to look at the new truck and this was in the back...
Struck by lightning in the parking lot (didn't think it could happen)..

​

 

[jjoerger]

Getting hit by lightning in a moving truck was a shocking experience. LOL
Extremely bright white light on the truck and extremely loud bang.
All the dash gauges went wild fluctuating back and forth.
We did not feel any current going through us.
Speedo quit working and trans stayed in ninth gear.
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[layoutshooter]

Getting hit by lightning in a moving truck was a shocking experience. LOL
Extremely bright white light on the truck and extremely loud bang.
All the dash gauges went wild fluctuating back and forth.
We did not feel any current going through us.
Speedo quit working and trans stayed in ninth gear.
Sent from my PG06100 using EO Forums

Consider yourself lucky. I know a man who was hit by lighting out on Lake Erie. He spent the better part of 9 months in the hospital. He too had 'electrical' problems. Along with a broken back and pelvis. Glad to hear you guys are ok.

 

[moose]

Mans are 9 times more likely to be hit by lightning then woman's.

(Yh'a, i know, i'm full of useless information.)

 

[Moot]

Mooses are 20 times more likely to be hit by lightning than men. I think it's the antlers!

 

[scottm4211]

Mooses are 20 times more likely to be hit by lightning than men. I think it's the antlers!

I've never seen a Moose win the lottery.

 

[Ragman]

Mooses are 20 times more likely to be hit by lightning than men. I think it's the antlers!

..................

 

[cheri1122]

Mans are 9 times more likely to be hit by lightning then woman's.

(Yh'a, i know, i'm full of useless information.)

Moose: it's not useless information if I can figure out how to make it work, lol.

Seriously, though, I'm glad the OP is OK - Tude's photos are pretty scary stuff.

 

[pearlpro]

Lightning has been pretty wild in the Midwest lately but be glad yopu werent also hit by the hail we had, Ive seen pics of 2 and 3 inch hail stones, thousands of cars, vehicles, buildings are gonna be damaged here, the parking lots over by Westport had hundreds of cars with both windshields knocked out and dents that looked like a BALL PEEN hammer wack....I imagine the water was the conduit because it was raining so hard, walls, sheets of rain all day and night Sat.....

I too would have the whole truck tested, especially Anti Lock brakes, Engine computer CPU/ROM and any other electronic components, Id have the battery, Alternator and cables inspected because that charge had to go somewhere, Ill bet theres a black spot on the bottom of the truck somewhere, Arced and burnt as it passed to the ground. Diagnostics and Inspection throughout and Under dash etc, that kind of voltage is gonna wreck OR worse damage things that will fail when you least expect it.

Glad your safe, that was one hell of a storm....

 

[jjoerger]

The damaged electrical component appears to be the Transmission Control Unit.
But they will not have the part until Wednesday.
According to the fine people at CIS Insurance it should be covered and our downtime coverage will kick in.
We are having it repaired at the Peterbilt dealer.