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nonymous (banned)
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ

nonymous (banned) to westom

Member

to westom

Re: [Help] Truck hit by lightning...

said by westom:

What specifically might be damaged? The list would be rather short. It starts by identifying the incoming and the outgoing to earth current paths. Then finding anything that was in that electrical path. What makes that challenging? Many have no idea that insulators (ie wood, linoleum, some plastics) are really electrical conductors.

There may easily be more than one exit path and not all paths may be easily visible.
westom
join:2009-03-15

westom

Member

said by nonymous:

There may easily be more than one exit path and not all paths may be easily visible.

Welcome to an art. Virtually no damage is visible - unless you are using test equipment that can see what eyes cannot. Many potentially destructive paths become obvious once simple concepts (ie insulators that are really conductors) are understood.

Problem of fixing surge damage is mostly about what the human does and does not know. But we know one thing. The destructive path(s) is from where lightning stikes to where it connects to earth. That never changes.

In one case, a mechanic kept replacing the computer - four times. Then we took over. Computer was never defective. He just followed the tech manual procedure four times rather than learn what those procedures were doing or asking. In that case, only three possibile defects existed: a control device, wire, and the computer. So he replaced the computer four times. That is what the diagnostics procedure told him to do. The actual problem was the control device.

It is a serious problem with all auto repair. To many only read directions rather than learn what directions are actually doing. Damage due to lightning is particularly challenging for many mechanics. Too many consumers then pay for replacing same components that were never defective.

Same solutions that harden a vehicle from lightning also harden those same electronics from other potential problems - such as an adjacent CB radio transmistter. Early auto computers, confused by nearby transmitters, were also easily succeptible to lightning damage. The solution for both are often same.

BTW, some of those solutions were pioneered in nuclear hardened weapon systems. Cars are routinely put into anechoic and equivalent test chambers for reliable operation during all types of electromagnetic interferenece. Better vehicles are struck by lighting without any damage. But again, welcome to an art.

Beezel
join:2008-12-15
Las Vegas, NV

Beezel

Member

said by westom:

said by nonymous:

There may easily be more than one exit path and not all paths may be easily visible.


In one case, a mechanic kept replacing the computer - four times. Then we took over. Computer was never defective. He just followed the tech manual procedure four times rather than learn what those procedures were doing or asking. In that case, only three possibile defects existed: a control device, wire, and the computer. So he replaced the computer four times. That is what the diagnostics procedure told him to do. The actual problem was the control device.

It is a serious problem with all auto repair. To many only read directions rather than learn what directions are actually doing. Damage due to lightning is particularly challenging for many mechanics. Too many consumers then pay for replacing same components that were never defective.

That's the difference between a true technician or mechanic if you will, and a parts changer. Mileage varies unfortunately.