Electrostatic Discharge

[Yello_Pro5]

Ok, this might sound weird.

EVERY time I get out of my car, the moment I touch the door to close it I get an electrostatic discharge. The longer the drive the worst it is. I started noticing it the second day after I got my car. It never did this with my previous car.

Anyone ever experienced it? Any known cause or tips?

Thank you

Simon Boudreault

 

[Sir Nuke]

first off.....welcome to the club.....I see you are fairly new....you will certainly enjoy the company here....


and YES>>...if it gets really dry here...as in low humidity, which is rare....the car traveling though the air will build up a static charge.....and if you open the door and then step out...when you RE touch the door you create a path to ground for the static....what you can do is one of two things....get in the habbit of grabbing the metal part of the door while you are still in contact with the car and the put one foot on the ground...there won't be an air gap for the spark to jump and you won't get shocked....

OR....you could attach one of those little grounding straps to the bottom of your car and allow it to drag the ground, constantly discharging any static that builds up.

 

[MrJoel]

This happens in most cars. But it's easy to avoid the shock. Just touch the metal of the door before you put your foot on the ground and you will never be shocked again.

 

[MrJoel]

bahhhh. Sir nuke is too damned fast.

 

[YellowPR5]

I usually tap my key on the rubber molding on top of the door. I usually have my key in my hand from taking it out of the ignition and tapping the rubber seal usually removes the static.

 

[bmorton]

He may be fast but the real reason you get shocked is because of static electricity build-up as your clothes rub on the seat fabric, not because the car builds up a charge as you drive it (it does, but it dissipates when you stop). Some people find that spraying fabric softener on the seats solves the shock problem.

 

[fastdrvr23]

I think its pretty cool on a dark night though...
You can see the static arc across your hand to the door if it is really dark outside. Other than that, it just pisses me off. lol.

 

[sundevilMP5]

hahaha...i did this for about the first two weeks i had my car...lol...and the shocks really hurt too...i'm surprised that it took me two weeks of getting shocked before i got into the habit of not touching the stupid door first...

 

[derrick1623]

cruel joke..

if someone else is with you, be sure that they touch the ground first, thus shocking them not you!,hahahahaha

 

[Yello_Pro5]

Thanks for replying,

I guess I'm just too dumb to stop touching the door! Those straps to the ground looks like.. well, crap, so no way. Gonna try the Static Gard on the seat though.. might help... In ther mean time I'll try some of your tips.

Thanks

 

[blynzoo]

Thanks for replying,

I guess I'm just too dumb to stop touching the door! Those straps to the ground looks like.. well, crap, so no way. Gonna try the Static Gard on the seat though.. might help... In ther mean time I'll try some of your tips.

Thanks

interesting bit of trivia.....
several people each year are injured or killed by static electricity from their car. If there are enough ambient fumes in a gas station, your static can ignite them. More commonly, someone holds a static charge on them while pumping, and it's released while pumping, igniting the fuel. Or a passenger who is still holding a charge gets out after the person pumping gets out and ignites it. Interesting stuff.

Wanna have fun with your passenger on long road trips? Take your shoes off while driving/riding. Discreetly rub your feet on the floor, then shock the person next to you. Better yet, try to hold the charge until you go into, say, McD's and release it on some unsuspecting tourist.

I need more social activities.