Man buys Porsche 911 that was struck by lightning then films video warning people to never ever do the same

A Porsche 911 with lightning damage bought at a salvage auction turned into a costly repair saga.

The car had been struck during a storm, but was sold with only a vague note of engine trouble.

After months of effort, the engine finally ran, yet the gearbox would not engage.

That failure opened the door to a series of discoveries that pushed the project further out of reach.

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Porsche 911 gearbox trouble

Ruan Schneider bought the Porsche 911 through a salvage auction as a non-runner, with no mention of lightning damage.

Salvage auctions often list vehicles with limited background information, and this car’s history made all the difference.

The new owner began with the basics, repairing the immobilizer, fuel system, and ignition.

Once those systems were fixed, the engine came back to life. Even then, the car refused to move.

Attention turned to the gearbox.

The control unit overheated during testing, and diagnostics traced the problem to the gear position sensor.

Bench testing confirmed it was drawing abnormal current, a sign of internal failure.

Without it, the gearbox could not deliver drive to the wheels.

Porsche dealers explained that the sensor was not sold separately.

Their only option was a complete gearbox exchange at nearly $20k.

Refusing to return the damaged unit would add even more to the bill, leaving few realistic options.

Salvage auction costs

Lightning damage creates problems that can be difficult to track down.

Modern cars rely on complex wiring and electronics, so even one strike can affect multiple systems.

In this Porsche 911, every successful repair revealed another hidden fault, with the gearbox becoming the most expensive obstacle.

Thankfully, independent suppliers offered an alternative.

Replacement sensors were available from specialists for about $1,000, a fraction of the dealer’s price.

These parts provided a possible solution, but they relied on outside expertise and came with longer waits for testing and delivery.

For anyone considering a Porsche 911 from a salvage auction, the risks are clear.

Lightning damage leaves behind faults that may not appear until major work is attempted.

What looked like an affordable way into ownership became a long and costly project with no guaranteed resolution.

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