[CurtisW]

So my lightning was crashed into a guard rail and I'm hoping it can be repaired. What has me concerned is the possible electrical problems. Initially after the crash the truck wanted to call 911 cause it detected the crash. After that it would not turn on and said front motor disabled. shortly after that both screens shut down and the 4 ways stayed on. Now it's completely dead and the hood won't open with the manual release due to the lift mechanism on the passenger side being damaged so I couldn't get to the 12v battery. Mechanically the truck looks fine but not being able to turn it on has me worried. Is there an electrical safety mechanism that needs reset or replaced after a crash happens? Why did the truck say front motor disabled? Obviously the truck needs a ton of body work, it's getting it to turn on and run again that has me worried. Insurance is coming out tomorrow to get an estimate on the damage. I'm really just looking for information on the electrical system after a crash. I'm hoping it's something simple that shut it down due to a crash being detected...
Wish me luck and please keep the hate to a minimum I'm just looking for advice or repair information that applies here.

 

[MPie]

Hope you're physically okay. Looks like a pretty bad accident.

No hate, but maybe be prepared to start looking for a new vehicle. I don't personally have anything helpful to say about why the electrical systems appear to have been disabled.

 

[CurtisW]

Hope you're physically okay. Looks like a pretty bad accident.

No hate, but maybe be prepared to start looking for a new vehicle. I don't personally have anything helpful to say about why the electrical systems appear to have been disabled.

I'm physically fine. I just can't imagine this will be totaled as it mostly appears to be body damage. I see nothing wrong with the drivetrain, frame, or battery, air bags did not deploy... even if insurance totals it I would probably want to buy it back and repair it. It's possible things under the passenger fender are broken but from what I could see through the hole torn in it the wires in there look intact. Needs a washer fluid tank, fender, headlight, tail light and body work. I'm thinking there is likely a high voltage safety that shuts power down in a crash. The truck was in accessory mode for about an hour before it completely shut down likely due to the 12v system losing power.

 

[AB852]

I'm physically fine. I just can't imagine this will be totaled as it mostly appears to be body damage. I see nothing wrong with the drivetrain, frame, or battery, air bags did not deploy... even if insurance totals it I would probably want to buy it back and repair it. It's possible things under the passenger fender are broken but from what I could see through the hole torn in it the wires in there look intact. Needs a washer fluid tank, fender, headlight, tail light and body work. I'm thinking there is likely a high voltage safety that shuts power down in a crash. The truck was in accessory mode for about an hour before it completely shut down likely due to the 12v system losing power.

Not 100% sure on the lightning, but most EVs have a pyro fuse that pops in an accident. This cuts off all power from the big high voltage battery to prevent a fire. The could be your electrical issue.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

that looks like mostly superficial 'body' damage, nothing to do with any electrical... with the price of these trucks, it's unlikely body damage is going to come close to 'totalling' it... your physical damage deductible will come out of your pocket, but insurance should make you whole on the rest of the repairs... plus, now a days, insurers must also pay a 'depreciation' amount that is calculated to repay you for 'loss of depreciated value' after a vehicle has been repaired from an accident.
Ford is smart in how they've designed this truck, like other evs, they don't put 'critical' high-voltage electrical items, devices, and wiring near the 'exterior' of the truck - it's all contained as much as possible in the 'interior' structure, especially between the frame rails.

 

[CurtisW]

that looks like mostly superficial 'body' damage, nothing to do with any electrical... with the price of these trucks, it's unlikely body damage is going to come close to 'totalling' it... your physical damage deductible will come out of your pocket, but insurance should make you whole on the rest of the repairs... plus, now a days, insurers must also pay a 'depreciation' amount that is calculated to repay you for 'loss of depreciated value' after a vehicle has been repaired from an accident.
Ford is smart in how they've designed this truck, like other evs, they don't put 'critical' high-voltage electrical items, devices, and wiring near the 'exterior' of the truck - it's all contained as much as possible in the 'interior' structure, especially between the frame rails.

Yes its mostly superficial body damage. But I'm telling you it said front motor disabled and would not turn on besides accessory mode and then the 12v power died quickly. I'm thinking there's a safety fuse or something that deenergizes the high voltage battery after a crash. IDK if it just needs reset with a scan tool or if there's a physical safety fuse that needs replaced like the pyro fuses on tesla's and other EVs. I got my repair estimate today that comes in at $12154 for parts and a total of $18918.11 after labor and taxes. The only electrical work on my estimate is labor for "High Voltage system deactivate/Activate" My estimate includes everything from the front and rear bumpers and the entire passenger side of the truck including 2 wheels and the running board. I didn't see any damage to the running board that I can remember and the wheels just have scuffs in the paint but the front tire did blow out.

 

[StanT]

All of the BEVs have a High Voltage interlock system called HVIL, and at the time of an accident this is designed to open HV contractors in the HV battery and Power distribution box. One of the key steps is to check insualtion quality of all HV componets after an accident. Good luck with the repairs,

 

[ChasingCoral]

When my Mustang Mach E had the front end damaged by a flying retread, it took a month for repairs. That was in Mach of 2021 when they had just come out. I think you will run into similar problems: the repair shop won't have experience repairing the Lightning and parts will be hard to find. If your dealership has a body shop or has a body shop they work with, I encourage you to go with them. That will expedite getting parts.

BTW, cosmetic damage to the front of the Mach E was about $12K.

 

[HellBoy]

Totalled - there’s probably $50k+ in damages there…start shopping for a new vehicle.

Take a look at this shot I just took from a guy that had mostly superficial damage to the front and his estimate to repair…

 

[CurtisW]

Not totaled it's way less than I thought around $18900 and if they find additional problems my insurance will supplement that. The running board was around $1400 and only has a scuff in the plastic side that'll easily buff out so I told them not to order that part to save me money I also told them not to order the wheels that are only cosmetically damaged cause I can get aftermarket wheels for way less.

 

[CurtisW]

The truck is at my local Ford dealership that has an in house collision center and body and paint shop. I know I'm the first person to buy a lightning from them and definitely the first wrecked one they've seen but the body work is identical to all the other trucks that they work on. The side of the cab that the doors close into was under $1k I asked why that whole piece is needed cause it's only damaged behind the rear door and they explained that they get the whole side and cut out the section they need and weld it in to get everything aligned perfectly. The headlight was one of the highest cost parts on the list at over $1200.

EDIT to attach photos of repair estimate
.

 

[MPie]

Way less than I would have thought. But... It sounds like you're paying out of pocket?

Why in the world would you do that?

 

[CurtisW]

Way less than I would have thought. But... It sounds like you're paying out of pocket?

Why in the world would you do that?

I'm not paying out of pocket but have a $2k deductable. Insurance is sending me a check for $16918.11 which is the repair estimate minus my $2k deductable. So if I decide not to get some items they already decided to pay for like the running board that brings the repair cost down and I don't really end up paying the deductable. So by not getting the running board and wheels my repair cost will be less than the insurance check and I can use that extra money to buy whatever wheels I want.

If additional parts/repairs are needed that's not on my insurance quote the body shop has to submit a supplemental form before doing the additional repairs and any additional insurance money goes to them.

 

[MPie]

I'm not paying out of pocket but have a $2k deductable. Insurance is sending me a check for $16918.11 which is the repair estimate minus my $2k deductable. So if I decide not to get some items they already decided to pay for like the running board that brings the repair cost down and I don't really end up paying the deductable. So by not getting the running board and wheels my repair cost will be less than the insurance check and I can use that extra money to buy whatever wheels I want.

If additional parts/repairs are needed that's not on my insurance quote the body shop has to submit a supplemental form before doing the additional repairs and any additional insurance money goes to them.

Got it. That makes way more sense!

In both situations I used insurance to repair a vehicle, they sent the money to the body shop and not to me. Hence my confusion.

 

[Muzik76]

Hate to see this but thanks for sharing! Super interesting to watch how this unfolds. Best of luck! (Ps, the estimate is way lower than I think any of us would've thought)

 

[Simsonic]

"Mechanically the truck looks fine but not being able to turn it on has me worried."

Sorry to disagree, but mechanically, your truck does not look fine.

 

[CurtisW]

"Mechanically the truck looks fine but not being able to turn it on has me worried."

Sorry to disagree, but mechanically, your truck does not look fine.

If it would turn on right now it would still drive, if I put the spare tire on of course. It's all body damage. The whole truck disabling itself is kind of a shitty thing, what if I came to a stop in the middle of the interstate? I was going to pull the truck further off the road and change the tire until I realized it wouldn't move.

 

[Simsonic]

If it would turn on right now it would still drive, if I put the spare tire on of course. It's all body damage. The whole truck disabling itself is kind of a shitty thing, what if I came to a stop in the middle of the interstate? I was going to pull the truck further off the road and change the tire until I realized it wouldn't move.

I don’t know bud…both axles look like they are damaged. Good luck to you.

 

[ccarm6]

If it would turn on right now it would still drive, if I put the spare tire on of course. It's all body damage. The whole truck disabling itself is kind of a shitty thing, what if I came to a stop in the middle of the interstate? I was going to pull the truck further off the road and change the tire until I realized it wouldn't move.

How’d the rest of your repair go? My lightning is the white one in the video posted above, wrecked in October and still don’t have it back yet.

 

[CurtisW]

I should have the truck back this week. Repairs definitely taking longer than expected but it's nearly done at this point.