[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Thanks for the reminder. I heard the author interviewed on one of the radio talk shows...very knowledgeable guy.

Quick question: Is the damage done after an EMP permanent or temporary? That is is the car’s computer and circuity and alternator fried completely, or is it stunned and then resets and can be used again. What about computer circuitry?

[nina0113]

Permanent.

[polymuser]

Damage would be permanent. Small wires/traces/pathways melted. Anything requiring surge protection would be internally surged to death by the pulse wave, unless inside a significant ferrous metal enclosure.

[immadashell]

Quick question: Is the damage done after an EMP permanent or temporary? That is is the car’s computer and circuity and alternator fried completely, or is it stunned and then resets and can be used again. What about computer circuitry?

Fried completely, forever.

[Bob Mc]

A powerful enough EMP will "zot" semiconductor devices. In essence your car's computer is "fried". No it won't reset.

Old car's with mechanical ignition systems will be unaffected. The radio would be shot, unless it is really old and has tube type radio.

[esquirette]

It is permanent, but pretty much line-of-sight as well, which the book briefly mentions.

[sionnsar]

Quick question: Is the damage done after an EMP permanent or temporary? That is is the car’s computer and circuity and alternator fried completely, or is it stunned and then resets and can be used again. What about computer circuitry?

Permanent.

[vanilla swirl]

“Quick question: Is the damage done after an EMP permanent or temporary? That is is the car’s computer and circuity and alternator fried completely, or is it stunned and then resets and can be used again. What about computer circuitry?”

Done like dinner, fried to a crisp, you get the idea.
And what is worse the EMP takes out the huge transformers that our power grid uses. OH, yea, they aren’t made in the USA.

Government study;
http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf