Emp?

[blasterguam]

Here's a new one for me - I was driving home last night and a passing thunderstorm was still in the area with pretty intense lightning. As I was going down a 6 lane highway a pretty big bolt of lightning bolted across the sky in front of me - one of those "wow" reaction bolts. Instantly my cruise control went off, the stereo stopped playing the MP3s from my thumb drive in the "aux" mode. I could not reset the cruise control (even though it still showed in the "on" setting) but the stereo rescanned the music and began playing from the beginning of the playlist. After about 5-10 minutes I was able to finally turn the cruise control off, back on, and re-engage it. I guess all the computer controlled features in this car make it more sensitive to EMP. I have never experienced anything like this ever before in any car. Now I wonder what else could be sensitive.

 

[jonah]

wow that's interesting! glad you didn't get hit, you would really have had an EMP pulse then...

in another thread i've mentioned that after i installed HIDs in my high beams, my radio changes to the MP3 player, first song, every time i light them up. I've always suspected it was due to EMI from the old mag core ballasts, and your experience seems to be in line with that. Obviously firing an HID ballast is going to make a LOT less EMI than a lighting strike but it's the same kind of thing...

thanks for telling us about this!

 

[wallymn]

Wouldn't this suggest there is a grounding problem in the electrical system?

 

[blasterguam]

Wouldn't this suggest there is a grounding problem in the electrical system?

No, not at all. Lightning is a well documented source of EMP and effects all sorts of EMI-sensitive circuitry.

The thing that bothered me the most is wondering what else it may have done that I DIDN'T know about.

 

[JPW]

One word...aliens. Your description brought back images from Close Encounters of the Third Kind for me.

 

[Nabber]

As I was going down a 6 lane highway a pretty big bolt of lightning bolted across the sky in front of me - one of those "wow" reaction bolts. Instantly my cruise control went off, the stereo stopped playing the MP3s from my thumb drive in the "aux" mode.

This very thing happened to me as well a couple months back although it didn't affect my cruise (or I didn't have it on). The stereo went from playing MP3's to the DVD player. With my left hand on the wheel and my right arm across the passenger seat, I knew I hadn't bumped the buttons.

 

[JOwest]

With my left hand on the wheel and my right arm across the passenger seat, I knew I hadn't bumped the buttons.

Why and where exactly was your right arm across the passenger seat while you were driving

 

[ImInPA]

Hmmm...never had a lightning bolt upset the electronics in any vehicle I have owned. Let us know if you start having strange nightmares about funny looking beings with large eyes standing around the table you are laid out on. This does sound like a grounding or shielding issue to me.

 

[blasterguam]

Hmmm...never had a lightning bolt upset the electronics in any vehicle I have owned. Let us know if you start having strange nightmares about funny looking beings with large eyes standing around the table you are laid out on. This does sound like a grounding or shielding issue to me.

I agree it is a shielding problem. If the EMP is strong enough I know it can effect any car - heck the military even has experimented with EMP generators that can kill any car. I may not have been the only car that had an issue for all I know - it was big and close. The good news is that it was nothing permanent and things returned to normal.

 

[wallymn]

Wondering if there is a real risk here.

The car is a drive by wire, so throttle control could be affected,
On the v8 the steering is electric so that could be affected.

Heck, key recognition could be affected (for keyless running).

lets hope the critical systems are shielded better

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[TomKat32256]

I have one better that that --

On July 10, 2023 -- lightning struck within 100 yards of my 2014 Genesis (which was parked inside my garage) -- the EMP "fried" all of the control modules -- so far, $3,500 in repairs and looking for one module that "is no longer in production!"

After EMP, car would start but -- no speedo / tach / radio / electric steering or shift for transmission -- totally "fooked up!"

Waiting to see what excuse my insurance company uses to "deny coverage."

Thanks Hyundai / Genesis!!

 

[jep604]

I have one better that that --

On July 10, 2023 -- lightning struck within 100 yards of my 2014 Genesis (which was parked inside my garage) -- the EMP "fried" all of the control modules -- so far, $3,500 in repairs and looking for one module that "is no longer in production!"

After EMP, car would start but -- no speedo / tach / radio / electric steering or shift for transmission -- totally "fooked up!"

Waiting to see what excuse my insurance company uses to "deny coverage."

Thanks Hyundai / Genesis!!

If in your garage, homeowner's insurance might cover it? If auto insurance this should fall under "Comp" because it was an act of nature. Guessing you meant June 10th, 2023? How many miles on your '14 Genesis?

 

[joegr]

...

Thanks Hyundai / Genesis!!

This is an issue for all cars with electronics. A close enough strike, especially if it is positive lightning, can do this to any brand of car.