Why does my car keep shocking me?

[bosslady]

The occasional shock I can handle but every time I have driven my car for the past few weeks when I close the door I get an "electric shock" or some shit. EVERY F'N TIME! It didn't use to happen, any explanation?

[nzspokes]

Put an earth strap on it.

[pete376403]

static electricity being generated by the rubbing of the seat fabric against your clothes. I get zapped when wearing trackpants (polar fleece type synthetic fabric, cotton denim doesn't have the same effect). Usually when I get out and then touch the door to close it

[oneofsix]

It will be your nylon knickers Mrs, you'll have to go back to the silk ones or being this close to Christmas you could go knicker less :bleh: :eek:

What are you doing now that could be causing you to build up more static; running the air con? change of materials, cotton instead of wool or polar fleece? new car seat covers?

[Mom]

Dry atmospheric conditions will make it worse. I can get to a point where I wont touch the car with my hands at all when I get out of it. You just wait till you kiss your kids and give them a static shock :lol:

[Hoon]

Heaps of possibilities. Polyester clothing instead of natural fibre, using a dryer instead of hanging out clothes, different/no fabric softener etc....could be anything.

[Woodman]

Jandals... Same reason I get shocks at the supermarket when taking stuff off the shelves. Jandals.

[awa355]

Bionic Woman. :drool::drool:

[scumdog]

The occasional shock I can handle but every time I have driven my car for the past few weeks when I close the door I get an "electric shock" or some shit. EVERY F'N TIME! It didn't use to happen, any explanation?

Touch the bare metal of the door-latch on the car door-pillar as you get out and put your feet on the ground.;)

No more:shit:

[jellywrestler]

It will be your nylon knickers Mrs, you'll have to go back to the silk ones or being this close to Christmas you could go knicker less :bleh: :eek:

either VTNZ did something to it after seeing your previous comments on KB or , nylon knickers or if you go commando the wrong type of pube wax can have the same effect, if that's the case go to Spicshavers and get a brazillian.........

[skippa1]

Touch the bare metal of the door-latch on the car door-pillar as you get out and put your feet on the ground.;)

No more:shit:
The policeman is right:Police:

[Maha]

Those latex gloves are a quick fix, and they keep your steering wheel clean.

[jellywrestler]

Those latex gloves are a quick fix, and they keep your steering clean.

don't use the same ones as you use for waxing your pubes else your steering wheel may not be too clean.

[bosslady]

Nope happens even if I wear all cotton, including my undies, good for breathability.

[jellywrestler]

Nope happens even if I wear all cotton, including my undies, good for breathability.

i'm with the VTNZ theory then, thay may have put a webcam in to watch it all, i'm off to google it right now.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I wear all cotton, including my undies, good for breathability.

We'll be needing pictures to help us understand what's actually going on. I'm thinking a build up of moisture.

[Grashopper]

With my car it started when I put seat covers on the seats. Must be synthetic.

[skinman]

I touched the cat once before closing the car door...poor pussycat got zapped on the head. I get really big shocks from wifeys car

[haydes55]

Bolt a strap of rubber off the chassis so it runs along the ground. Or, don't touch the car with your hands. Bump the door closed with your bum. If your bum gets the shock.... Just enjoy it.

[p.dath]

The occasional shock I can handle but every time I have driven my car for the past few weeks when I close the door I get an "electric shock" or some shit. EVERY F'N TIME! It didn't use to happen, any explanation?

As several others have said, it is usually related to Nylon. Use shoes with a rubber sole instead of nylon if you can (that will stop most of it). Most clothing these days seems to contain nylon, so it is hard to avoid there.

[carbonhed]

Touch the bare metal of the door-latch on the car door-pillar as you get out and put your feet on the ground.;)

No more:shit:

This is the solution to the problem.

[Owl]

Here's something to try. Mrs reckons a light spray of hairspray will stop it from happening. Doesn't no why, but thinks it's something to do with fine hair/ions???????

I wouldn't know, cause I have no hair, but then I never get static shocks.:D

[DMNTD]

Touch the bare metal of the door-latch on the car door-pillar as you get out and put your feet on the ground.;)

No more:shit:

Actually any part of the door or body of the car will work

[Drew]

Stop wearing the tinfoil hat that Steve gave you.

[Banditbandit]

The policeman is right:Police:

I'll bet that was hard to admit ...


Nope happens even if I wear all cotton, including my undies, good for breathability.

As avgas said - Stop wearing undies ... even better breathability (yours, not his ...)


Bolt a strap of rubber off the chassis so it runs along the ground.

:killingme I see that all the time ... tell me .. how will that help? Please don't tell me that it earths the car - rubber is an insulating material ... electricity - static or otherwise - will not travel down the rubber and earth out .. that's why the static builds up now - the rubber tyres stop the car earthing out ..

[huff3r]

I'll bet that was hard to admit ...



As avgas said - Stop wearing undies ... even better breathability (yours, not his ...)



:killingme I see that all the time ... tell me .. how will that help? Please don't tell me that it earths the car - rubber is an insulating material ... electricity - static or otherwise - will not travel down the rubber and earth out .. that's why the static builds up now - the rubber tyres stop the car earthing out ..

Proper static strips aren't rubber, the ones supercheap used to sell we're a ribbon style cable to earth the chassis to the ground.

[haydes55]

I'll bet that was hard to admit ...







As avgas said - Stop wearing undies ... even better breathability (yours, not his ...)







:killingme I see that all the time ... tell me .. how will that help? Please don't tell me that it earths the car - rubber is an insulating material ... electricity - static or otherwise - will not travel down the rubber and earth out .. that's why the static builds up now - the rubber tyres stop the car earthing out ..







Are they supposed to earth it? I thought they were just to gauge how lowered your car was? Or how fat the driver is.

[leathel]

Its because you are a electrifying person :laugh:

My mother used to get zapped all the time, after putting a static strip on the car it limited it but didn't stop it, Seat covers can charge you.

you need a phone charger attachment to yourself to discharge you :msn-wink:

[caspernz]

Reduced humidity in atmosphere, combined with clothing choice, all have an impact in the static shock you get from your car.

Easiest solution is the earth strap, fit and forget :2thumbsup

[willytheekid]

:facepalm:...WHY are you driving a "car" in the first place! (there a stupid bloody design!)

...its simply telling you to ride the bike more :yes: :laugh:

[bogan]

Proper static strips aren't rubber, the ones supercheap used to sell we're a ribbon style cable to earth the chassis to the ground.

High brow eh, can't beat some tin cans and a bit of number 8 for functionality.


:facepalm:...WHY are you driving a "car" in the first place! (there a stupid bloody design!)

...its simply telling you to ride the bike more :yes: :laugh:

Fucking aye!

...or at least wear your riding gloves while driving.


More seriously though, my van has a bit of dirt and some miscellaneous flora growing in the footwells, and I've never been shocked. So upend a potplant into yours and I'm pretty sure it'll fix take care of the earthing problem :D

[awa355]

Nope happens even if I wear all cotton, including my undies, good for breathability.

What do you expect? :gob: These would give anyone a shock.:doh:

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Untitledpicture2.jpg

[Banditbandit]

Is she hanging out a car seat cover to dry there?

[Mo NZ]

Put an earth strap on it.

What he said. Or drive nude.

[Road kill]

Your a woman,you deserve it.:laugh:

Ok sorry,,put an earth strap on it,but not the rubber one the local taliban rep at super cheap tries to sell you.

Put a steel earth strap on it an you'll never have another problem.

Just a bit of flat battery lead will do it.

BTW,,,for obvious reasons rubber straps do nothing,,,,good stuff rubber,,,very insulating aye:msn-wink:

[leathel]

Your a woman,you deserve it.:laugh:

Ok sorry,,put an earth strap on it,but not the rubber one the local taliban rep at super cheap tries to sell you.

Put a steel earth strap on it an you'll never have another problem.

Just a bit of flat battery lead will do it.

BTW,,,for obvious reasons rubber straps do nothing,,,,good stuff rubber,,,very insulating aye:msn-wink:

the proper static rubber ones do have integrated bit that transfer the juice.... they need to be long enough to get good contact... IE 1-2" longer than just touching

[PrincessBandit]

I'm also in the "touch part of the car before putting feet on ground" camp - usually I open the door, grab hold of the pillar or roof at the door then touch down. When I forget to do that...zaaaaaap (some days are worse than others).
Also, Mom, I also know what it's like to kiss or touch one of the kids and zap them too! (and it sounds like you're cracking fleas on a dog's belly)

[jellywrestler]

I also know what it's like to kiss or touch one of the kids and zap them too!

is that you Rolf Harris????

[Genestho]

I find the old "slam the fingers in the door" trick, works well as a distraction.. :facepalm:

[F5 Dave]

Triboelectric charging, all good fun. To feel it you're probably getting a pass of several thousand volts. If you see it its 10,000.

But the real reason is your car hates you.

try punching it. It will make you feel better if you don't get a hard edge & the shock will be through your knuckles which have far less sensitive nerves in them.

Your shoes will make a big difference too. it happens on dry days as moisture will help the potential difference bleed down.

[Tazz]

Whenever you're in doubt, cover it in gas and set it on fire.

[MSTRS]

We had a Subaru once...evil piece of shit it was too...always got shocks off that car. Didn't matter what was being worn or weather or whatever.
Discovered the "Hold on to a metal bit before putting foot on ground"
These days I still use that trick when I wear my Saucony runners. Only have the static problem when wearing them.

[Padmei]

:killingme I see that all the time ... tell me .. how will that help? Please don't tell me that it earths the car - rubber is an insulating material ... electricity - static or otherwise - will not travel down the rubber and earth out .. that's why the static builds up now - the rubber tyres stop the car earthing out ..

Actually this came up many years ago when I was at tech doing my sparky training. Apparently modern tyres have carbon in them that supposedly transfers current. I was told earth straps don't do F all as there are many parts that are isolated from the chassis.
Dunno if it's true or not as I haven't tested it. I get heaps of fricking shocks off my car - whoever coined the term "shock" hit the nail on the head.

[bosslady]

All interesting suggestions. Might do the touch the metal before putting foor on ground one.

[bogan]

These days I still use that trick when I wear my Saucony runners. Only have the static problem when wearing them.

Perhaps the problem there is you're driving in them instead of, ya know, running in them :innocent:

Speaking of footwear and shocks, once neglected to insulate a running ignition coil quite well enough, could actually feel where the electricty was leaving my feet to complete the earth side of the circuit; you could say it was an electrifying experience :shutup:

[Tigadee]

The occasional shock I can handle but every time I have driven my car for the past few weeks when I close the door I get an "electric shock" or some shit. EVERY F'N TIME! It didn't use to happen, any explanation?

:rolleyes: It's telling you to ride your bike! :laugh:

[FROSTY]

A lot of the jap imports used to come in with like a heavy bracelet chain hanging down underneath. did the same job as earth strap when stopped but lifted off the ground whilst driving