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risulasi

Member Since: 22 Apr 2021
Location: Turku
Posts: 7

Lightning struck my car

I was driving on a highway through thunderstorm and lightning struck my car.
It caused immediate blackout to car and now it is at dealer workshop for further investigations.
Does anyone have any experience (or heard) such incident?
Cars now a days are full of electronics like circuit boards etc. and I am just thinking if it is game over for my Defender?

23rd Aug 2022 11:29am

The Zee

Member Since: 26 May 2019
Location: Salisbury
Posts: 290

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Indus Silver

WOW !

It's a tested occurance, automotive vehicles do undergo lighting strike testing, but it's very rare for this to happen in a real world situation, there is normally other paths for the lighting to take that is better grounded than a vehicle (tree, aerial, mast, ect.).

You must have been the hightest object in a large radius to get struck. The metal cage of the vehicle protected you, however the electronics in the vehicle may be beyond repair, (the voltage and ampage combo is very damaging) is there any signs of external / physical occurance (scorching/burning)?

The only parallel are the avionics in an aircraft, both the airfame and contens are tested to exacting standards (very diffrent since you can't pull over in an Airbus at 13,000ft after a shock)

I've been on a commercial flight during a lighting strike, it is very disconercting, all the light went out in the cabin, it went very quiet, and it took a few minuits before the crew informed us of the strike, and all was OK. Much relief all round in the cabin. Zaid-M
www.DefencePhotos.com
2014 Defender 110 Utility, 2.2 Puma, Indus Silver
Not just transport more like a religion

23rd Aug 2022 12:41pm

nitram17

Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Re: Lightning struck my car

risulasi wrote:
I was driving on a highway through thunderstorm and lightning struck my car.
It caused immediate blackout to car and now it is at dealer workshop for further investigations.
Does anyone have any experience (or heard) such incident?
Cars now a days are full of electronics like circuit boards etc. and I am just thinking if it is game over for my Defender?

Faraday kept you safe and electronics can be replaced! Good luck!

23rd Aug 2022 1:00pm

Mossberg

Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green

Re: Lightning struck my car

risulasi wrote:
I was driving on a highway through thunderstorm and lightning struck my car.
It caused immediate blackout to car and now it is at dealer workshop for further investigations.
Does anyone have any experience (or heard) such incident?
Cars now a days are full of electronics like circuit boards etc. and I am just thinking if it is game over for my Defender?

FECK! At least you are 👍 Thankfully you didn't have your head out of the window, looking up!

I hope you manage to get it resolved, but I wouldn't be surprised if many of the circuits are toast - well burnt toast actually.

24th Aug 2022 4:39am

XplusYplusZ

Member Since: 16 Aug 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 507

Sounds like it could be a fun promotional case for JLR... If they can get it going again..

Try dropping a line to JLR - jazz the story up a bit and thank them for their car keeping you safe..

24th Aug 2022 8:06am

risulasi

Member Since: 22 Apr 2021
Location: Turku
Posts: 7

I did not see any obvious external / physical occurance, but it was raining heavily when I left the car side of the road so I did not check it very carefully.
It could be that the lightning struck also next to car, but close enough that it created blackout.
Since now I have not heard anything from dealer, but will keep you updated.

24th Aug 2022 10:33am

nitram17

Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Re: Lightning struck my car

risulasi wrote:
I was driving on a highway through thunderstorm and lightning struck my car.
It caused immediate blackout to car and now it is at dealer workshop for further investigations.
Does anyone have any experience (or heard) such incident?
Cars now a days are full of electronics like circuit boards etc. and I am just thinking if it is game over for my Defender?

which defender is yours? original or the new pseudo defender?

24th Aug 2022 12:52pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17568

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

A classic Defender would shrug off a lightning strike as though it was nothing, must have been a new Def!

Besides the post is in the L663 section.

24th Aug 2022 5:33pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2927

lndeed it would, our 2006 TD5 90 was struck during a thunderstorm up in Scotland with no ill effects, it did blow the interior light bulb which was a bit of a nuisance and l had to fork out £2 for a replacement.

Oh, and there was a mark on the roof so l had the roof resprayed, although most wouldn't have bothered.

24th Aug 2022 6:21pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17568

Did the event also influence your choice of forum username, by any chance?

24th Aug 2022 6:47pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2927

lt might possibly have done, at the time

24th Aug 2022 8:20pm

nitram17

Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

blackwolf wrote:
A classic Defender would shrug off a lightning strike as though it was nothing, must have been a new Def!

Besides the post is in the L663 section.

I must admit i don't look at the banners..

my bad!... just click on new posts and go from there....i must admit i find it hard to contain my indifference to the new defenders so if i had noticed a section dedicated to them i certainly wouldn't be clicking on it deliberately.

24th Aug 2022 10:44pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17568

Likewise, I only venture into these sections of the forum if there is something which sounds interesting, like shocking behaviour from JLR or lightning strikes.

25th Aug 2022 6:49am

macfrank

Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 1088

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green

lightning wrote:
...it did blow the interior light bulb which was a bit of a nuisance and l had to fork out £2 for a replacement.

lightning wrote:
Oh, and there was a mark on the roof so l had the roof resprayed, although most wouldn't have bothered.

I'd protected the mark in resin. It's too good a story to waste its proof.

25th Aug 2022 9:57am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17568

It looks like we've found yet another thing the old Defender can do which the new one can't, survive a lightning strike!

25th Aug 2022 3:19pm

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