Lightning hit near my 156- Can't start..

[Yonatan]

Hello guys,

I'm travelling in the blue mountains (close to Mount Victoria) and this morning I've been in a stormy area.
A lightning hit a tree about 5 meters from the car and after that few weird things happend:
The passenger window got opened, the rear fog lights are constantly on, the light of the trans. oil is flashing, something beeping, I can't start the car, and the remote key doesn't work as well.

I'm very confused...

Anyone have an idea about the problem?
A recommended service center to ask in?

Thanks a lot!

Yonatan

[johnl]

That is extremely unlucky. I'd hazard a guess that the electromagnetic field generated by the lightning has created a momentary uncontrolled induced voltage in the cars' electrical system. This may have fried delicate electronic components, such as the various computers that control more or less everything on the car.

You might try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, to see if this will reset the electronics (it might work...?) The engine ECU needs a specific procedure to be undertaken after the battery is reconnected, have a look at this page:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-andamp-gt/201163-ecu-reset-its-a-miracle-cure.html

The other computers, I don't really know, but I (hopefully) expect they would just automatically reset to whatever their baseline is (assuming this works, and the various black boxes are not burnt toast).

This may not be the baddest of the potentially bad news. It's my understanding (and I hope I'm wrong) that second hand computers probably won't work on any other car than the one to which they were originally fitted, because they are all individually coded to only work on that particular car. New ones coded to suit an individual car should be sourceable from Alfa Romeo (give them the VIN number), but I'd hate to think of at what cost. There may also be a chance that Alfa may no longer stock the electronic bits that may be needed, I have it on fairly good authority that Alfa (Fiat generally) only keeps many replacement parts in stock for five years or so...?

Good luck.

Regards,
John.

[bazzbazz]

I would suggest this:

1/ Disconnect both Positive and Negative connections from the battery, cover the battery terminals so they cant short
    against anything.
2/ Connect both the connections together using a jumper lead or similar (the car connections, NOT the battery terminals!!)
3/ Leave connected for at least 30 minutes (This will dissipate all power and charge from all systems and reset most of the
    cars computer modules to default)
4/ Reconnect the battery Positive terminal first, then the Negative.
5/ Turn the ignition to MAR but do not start, let sit for 2 minutes.
6/ Try and start the car

If this does not get you going you have fried one or more of the cars Computer Modules and will require an Alfa specialist to get you going again.

Baz

[ugame]

What was the outcome on this?

If fried by lightning, it may be worth approaching your insurance company? You never know.

If Lightning is found to the the cause after a report, maybe they'll cover it?

They'd cover it if the tree hit by the bolt had fallen onto the car. Same root cause.

[johnl]

The key words here might be; 'if lightning is found'. Maybe if there were a miraculously solidified bolt of lightning still attached to the car, and even then I doubt it...

In the absence of a photograph showing the car at the moment it was struck by lightning, I'm pretty sure an insurance assessor would say it's just a breakdown (especially as the claim is that lightning struck near the car, not even that lightning actually struck it...).

Regards,
John.

[ugame]

The key words here might be; 'if lightning is found'. Maybe if there were a miraculously solidified bolt of lightning still attached to the car, and even then I doubt it...

In the absence of a photograph showing the car at the moment it was struck by lightning, I'm pretty sure an insurance assessor would say it's just a breakdown (especially as the claim is that lightning struck near the car, not even that lightning actually struck it...).

Regards,
John.

Of course but my point is, it's worth asking. Doesn't cost anything to be rejected a claim.

If the car can be inspected and the damage to components is clearly identified as a high voltage surge, then there is your evidence.
Report gets written up and sent to insurance company and you go from there.

Same as claiming your TV/PlayStation in your house for the exact same "act of god" being a "nearby lightning strike".

[johnl]

I do hope so, good luck. It can't hurt to try, mad to not at least give it a go.

Regards,
John.