mcnamaraz Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 So driving down 1-25 in Denver today in a really big rain storm when all the sudden BOOOM!! Huge lighting strike and some decent heat on my left arm. Heard the loudest noise I have ever heard in my life. I seriously thought a bomb went off!!! Then I look down and realize "huh, my car is dead...no RPM's,...won't start while I am coasting." I had lights on gauges, radio and what not, but no RPM's. Coast off the highway to a parking lot. Turned the car all the way off and then back on. Still not starting. Dash reads "Er HC" where the mileage usually is. Also, the engine temp gauge is all the way at the top at H. So, I bust out my Cobb AP and plug that in. "Cannot communicate with vehicle Please ensure vehicle is in "ON" position." Great. Tried this a couple of times with no results. Keep in mind, I have power (windows, stereo, etc.) but no communication with the ECU. I even connected the green plugs to bring the car into test mode...which the car did not go into. No fule pump cycling or engine fan on. So, as we stand now my car is at GO Subaru here in Denver waiting till Tuesday till it can get fixed. I tried a fair amount of remedies I knew like disconnecting the battery, checking fuses, Cobb AP...etc. Thoughts? Suggestions? Mostly, I'm just happy I am alright and was not hurt. Plus, I have a cool story. But my car....damnit! I've only had it 2 months. : ( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 ECU is fried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnamaraz Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 That's what I think too. How much do those usually run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05pearl Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 That's what I think too. How much do those usually run? Cost should not matter. Your insurance should cover all of a lighting strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnamaraz Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Eh, not if you have a comprehensive deductible. I'll at least be out that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katalyst Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 crazy, what are the chances ! well at least it was your car and not you hopefully eveyrhting else is ok with the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Call Super Rupair tues morning. We may have a used ECU. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPLGT Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Holy smokes! That is just too crazy. Let us know what happens. Rehab is for quitters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Was there any damage to the car otherwise ? Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGT Dave Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Wow, what a crazy story! If you end up getting a new ECU you'll also have to send your AP back to Cobb for them to reset. Otherwise, it won't let you reinstall it because it thinks it's still married to the old ECU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05pearl Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 crazy, what are the chances ! The probability of lightning striking a particular object situated on the earth (ground) is found by multiplying the object’s lightning-attractive area by the local ground-flash density (lightning strikes to ground per km2 per year). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f1anatic Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Faraday Cage FTMW ! Sorry to hear about your ECU though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnamaraz Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Was there any damage to the car otherwise ? Nothing. Which is good. No burn marks or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS5689 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Reminds me on this. Except the VW actually works after... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf6W2B5TQSM]YouTube - Top Gear: Richard Hammond gets struck by lightning![/ame] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum_Racing Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 The VW survived because it wasn't running. I think if the car had been running the circuit between the ignition, the fuel pump, and all the electronics in the engine would've been closed, and all would've been fried. I could be wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagcars26 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I find this all revolting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I find this all revolting! I knew some bright spark would say that Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brady Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Wow! I know of a few lightning strikes around town yesterday, but those were HOMES! That's crazy one got your car. Sorry to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 That's the problem with modern cars - they contain sensitive electronics. And lightning strikes are powerful and unpredictable. You can't protect yourself from every lightning strike that can occur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 i can pretty safely say that more cars per year drive off a high cliff than get hit by lightening. Don't think you can protect yourself from a 50+ft fall off a cliff in a car either. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmarko Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I'm amped you're ok. When it happened, did you say "ohm y god!". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
987687 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 The VW survived because it wasn't running. I think if the car had been running the circuit between the ignition, the fuel pump, and all the electronics in the engine would've been closed, and all would've been fried. I could be wrong though. Yes, if it was running the chips would have been powered generating some electrostatic energy, and would have had a much better chance of being fried. I have had some scary run ins with lightning. Fried one of my favourite ever laptops once. And the second time I was in the theater, turning off the 3phase breaker to thousands of dollars of equipment. 20 seconds later the building was hit. If I was still touching that metal box... I dunno if I'd be posting... But I could literally see a wave of electricity come out of the box and wave across the building. Lightning is some scary shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 If you have full coverage insurance, it may be covered by "act of god" they should cover it in full. good luck 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongemonster Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I don't think I was hit but one day I was driving my '83 volvo 240 and came to a high point then BLAM! Big flash and the car stalled then re-fired as it was a manual and I was going downhill. Scary stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 you don't need a direct hit to fry electronics. Most reported strikes aren't actual strikes from the main bolt....they're usually from the 'electrical splash' that can be anywhere from a few feet to a few thousand feet from the main bolt. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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