Getting zapped by my car

[maca]

This might sound ridonculous but everytime I get out of my car, I get zapped when I go to close the door. Regardless of whether I use the plastic trim or the metal door skin, I get zapped and it's starting to give me the ****s! It doesn't happen in any other car and I basically have to use my wallet/phone to shut the door.

Does anyone have a solution for this? It's like my car retains static electricity purposely to annoy me!

[ralp2dam]

Funny you should bring this up I've been away for work in a Ford Territory for the last 4 days. Everytime I got out, I received a big electric shock. This occurred despite wearing different shoes and clothing on each occasion.

[Mk3 AAA]

How to Avoid Getting Zapped By Static | eHow.com


Maybe the Jetta is just so electric with the BBS there's no stopping it. Or maybe it's a sign that you're not the cars natural owner, have you been mistreating it? Or maybe it's just like a little thanks for the drive slap on the butt on your way out.

[greasykitchen]

What sort of shoes are you wearing? At work I get shocks off lots of things if I wear a particular pair of black leather shoes and walk across the carpet in the office. I also used to get shocks getting out of a car (can't remember which one). Your problem is possibly a combination of shoes, carpet and atmospheric conditions.

[ExRexer]

I was having the same issue with one of the vehicles at work. The best solution is to hold onto the vehicle as you are putting your foot on the ground. Worked for me.

[Jmac]

I was having the same issue with one of the vehicles at work. The best solution is to hold onto the vehicle as you are putting your foot on the ground. Worked for me.

Yep that one works for me, looks like you will need some grandpa static straps!!!

[wai]

Yep. Either a grounding strap for yourself or the car

This phenomenon will change depending on a number of things including the relative humidity of the air at the time. The more humid, the less the chance of discharge as it will leak through the moist air.

You can try various things mentioned, but there is really not much you can do about it. Even if you provide a good earth for the vehicle, but YOU develop a charge, then you can actually make things worse for yourself because now there is a perfect way for your charge to be discharged thanks to the grounding strap attached to the vehicle!

In one office I worked at, it was so bad (mainly because of the dry air) that they lifted the carpets and put a foil layer that was grounded. This did not do anything other than make things worse because of what I said above. The air was dry, people developed a static charge and the foil under the carpet made it so much easier for the static charge to be discharged.

[Guy_H]

PVC Underwear will do that to you every time Maca

[Greg Roles]

Guy beat me to it, was thinking bondage suit....

[maca]

Yep that one works for me, looks like you will need some grandpa static straps!!!

I actually wouldn't mind getting one of those... Hard Parking fad still going?

PVC Underwear will do that to you every time Maca

You're guilty of wearing them if you know the effects

But thank you for all of your replies. So far the most effective way to avoid getting zapped is to hold onto part of the car as I get out. I find that what I'm wearing doesn't really have anything to do with it, as I'll often be naked and still get a static zap when getting out.

Thanks again guys!

[CSR]

In one office I worked at, it was so bad (mainly because of the dry air) that they lifted the carpets and put a foil layer that was grounded. This did not do anything other than make things worse because of what I said above. The air was dry, people developed a static charge and the foil under the carpet made it so much easier for the static charge to be discharged.

This same thing happens in our office in our showroom. We have a big steel door in an enclosed room which is extremely dry (to protect contents of room) and lots of metal cabinets etc. Opening the door alone will give you a huge zap, every single time!

As for the car thing, i've been scarred by this showroom in our office that now I close the door with my elbow (which is usually clothed) and don't get zapped..