Jump to content

Interesting Problem. Shocking Car.


Guest

Recommended Posts

This is somewhat a strange problem. Basicaly my car shocks me when getting in and out of the car. When I say "shock", I mean it snaps hard! You can actualy here it from the other side of the car when it happens which is all the time. It's a static shock like when you drag your feet across a rugged floor and touch a TV screen when it's on, only this is 10 times worse. So does this happen to anyone else with their cars? It's getting somewhat anoying. any ideas as to what it could be thats causing this?

 

Jon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This happens ALOT during the changing seasons, especially during the dryer winter times. It is exactly what you described, a "static" shock.

 

It is basic physics, which I'm not really going to get into, but all you need to do is ground yourself before putting your feet on the ground.

 

Try touching some metal part of your car before you get out... if this seems to hard to do, I've heard of people rubbing dryer sheets on their carpets/seats or buying some anti-static spray at walmart. All of these things DO work.

 

Or you can do the expensve route... switch to leather interior. That will solve it too. Cloth interiors on an insulation buffer (READ: Rubber Tires) are the culprit, as you get into and out of the car your clothes rub on the seat and "charge" you... kind of like when you would shuffle your feet on the floor and go touch your little brother when you were a kid.

 

Hope that helps.

Billie

 

------------------

<IMG SRC=\"http://www.ussedson.com/montesig.jpg\">

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jon ... i have the same problem here in fl as the seasons change and it gets cool.what i do is put my left hand on the aluminum trim plate in the door opening as i step out.

it also happens in my truck. there i put my left hand on the door striker bolt as i step out.

one way thats supposed to bleed of static is to hang a rubber strap from the frame to the ground so it drags the ground all the time .i have seen them before but never tried it myself.

 

mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jon,

Everyone has given the cause as being static discharge and some ways to prevent getting zapped. I have another way to suggest to prevent it. Rather than wearing silk or nylon panties, try cotton.

 

One reason some people get shocked worse that others people is the moisture in your skin is an excellent conductor of electricty. along with the moisture in you skin is salt which enhances the conducting of the electricty. People with dry skin will be Less likely to jump a static spark than someone with moist skin because dry skin does not provide as good of a conductor as wet skin. Mickey, this may be why in the same car you get a jolt and someone else in the same vehicle does not, they may have dryer skin than you.. Or you could consider the suggestion I gave Jon and look into cotton.

Rob

 

------------------

 

To access my website click on the picture or link below.

 

images...

 

My Two Girls

 

http://www.cardomain.com/id/robsmodelamonte

 

Go Car or Show Car, it doesn't matter, you are welcome here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife's car shocks me every time. One day we were getting out of the car in he underground parking garage and there was a bright blue spark from my wife's finger to the door. Her finger was at least an inch away from the door. Hurt like heck she said.

 

------------------

Aaron

1970 Misty Turquoise Monte Carlo

My Monte Carlo Web Site

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ms. Mick and Dave:
Well! Good to know I'm not the only one. Never shocks Dave, but always shocks me. It's semi-arid here in Colorado, so I get shocked all year round.

Mickey
</font>


Ok you got the other reason this gripes my butt. My wife and kids can get in and out a thousand times and never get shocked. It happens in my wifes car also. Thats where I first noticed this. It never did this before in my monte until recently. Thats what also perplexed me. It just started doing it all a sudden. It's been hitting me since probably mid summer.

As far as grabbing something metal, thats what shocks me. As long as I don't touch anything metal, glass, vinyl ect, it does'nt zap me. I tried grabbing the outside door handle, the door jamb plate, inside door handle, but as soon as my leg is on the ground, it hits my leg. Or if I put one leg out on the ground and then grab the door handlen inside or outer handle...POW!!!! nails me! It does'nt seem to do it say if I just get in and out of the car without starting it. It's when I have drove, started or the engine is idling is when it hit me.

I've seen the rubber grounding straps on walkbehind lift trucks at work. I may try a small one from the frame to the ground. See if that does anygood. Silk & nylon panties are out for me Rob, I'll stick with cotton underwaer. biggrin.gif as far as dry skin, mines pretty dry. I work in an enviroment that is dehydrated because we make a salt based product and can't afford alot of moisture in the air. My skin is so dry it turn white at times. I try to use lotions but I wash my hands so much it dry'm right back out.

Jon.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Montes do not seem to set up a charge but my Ford Winstar It Make your eyeballs light up. All my vehicles have cloth and only the Van causes static shock go figure.

 

------------------

1970bb.jpg

 

My Monte's

 

If it sounds like Thunder!!! Me and My Monte have just rolled in!!!

 

1970 MC SS or one heck of a clone Needs restored

1970 MC 350/350

1998 F*%& WindStar

2002 Dodge Ram

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jon... i think i missed the point first go round , about this being a NEW problem . I know i read an article some time back about the newer high milage tires have different compounds for tread life and fuel milage .it seems it was more carbon added .but anyhow that caused lots of complaints to dealers about shocking exits .

 

sooooo , did ya get new tires over the summer

no answers to the problem . just more questions . lol

 

mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No. No new tires. I had an alternator ground out this summer. It sems to be going hand in hand with that. I have also had a slow drain on the battery. It was the alternator and now it's doing it again. You can let it set for about a day and it pulls the battery down enough you can't start the car. If I drive it everyday, no problems. I was wondering if that could be some of the trouble. I need to get to the bottom of why it's eating up alternators. I have alot of gadgets on the car that puts a good draw on the battery when driving. But I think it's the alternatort thats grounded out again.

 

Jon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmmm...ever touch both terminals of a car battery? Go ahead and plant both thumbs on the terminals, and....nothing. I can't see how an alternator could put out enough to charge the driver. If touching the car gives you a shock, then you are closing a circuit. Either the car is charged and you are the ground, or vice-versa. (when you were in high-school did a teacher tell you that you had potential?) [elecrtical humor].

The car can build a static charge just by driving through the air, and you can build a charge by sliding your posterior on synthetic fabrics. The lack of humidity amplifies the problem. The same thing happens inside your clothes drier.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:
Originally posted by George Lines:
My dad was a truckdriver and he used to tell the story about a driver friend of his that installed a pee tube in his truck. Used it only once.


HAHAHAHAHAHA That's funny smile.gif

------------------
Aaron
1970 Misty Turquoise Monte Carlo

My Monte Carlo Web Site
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Canuck:
HAHAHAHAHAHA That's funny smile.gif

</font>


NOT FUNNY frown.gif peed on a eletric fence at nine years old, never peed in the woods again. But its OK people laugh when I tell them that story too.



------------------
1970bb.jpg

My Monte's

If it sounds like Thunder!!! Me and My Monte have just rolled in!!!

1970 MC SS or one heck of a clone Needs restored
1970 MC 350/350
1998 F*%& WindStar
2002 Dodge Ram
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know I am laughing biggrin.gif HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHA

 

Quote:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by busmechanic:

NOT FUNNY frown.gif peed on a eletric fence at nine years old, never peed in the woods again. But its OK people laugh when I tell them that story too.

 

</font>

 

 

 

------------------

Chevy_anim_drkgreen.gif1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Chevy_anim_drkgreen.gif

My Monte Carlo Page

monte_thumb.JPG

 

Pete@firstgenmc.com

 

"You will find that it is you who are mistaken.... about a great many things." - Emperor Palpatine

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was a 20/20 show (or that type) that showed this was the case of many gas station fires. These people would get out of their car without discharging the shock until they held the gas pump creating a spark and igniting the gas fumes. They said it's always a good idea to make sure you've discharged any static electricity you've generated inside your car by touching the car's metal as you get out.

 

Steve

 

 

------------------

www.geocities.com/monteman1971

 

402-4Speed.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm just looking for any possabiltys here, you never know. I don't have a ground strap from the engine to the firewall, think that might help? I have one from the engine to the frame. I just had a this idea about the alternator because I remmeber that on some of my old tractors with magnetos, I was trying a mag to see if it was throwing a spark and had one hand on the mag and the other on the frame, it hit hard. It felt like it went up one arm and down the other. Thats why I was wondering about the alternator.

 

How did we get from car shocking to pissing on an electric fence? I never did that, but have hit an electric fence with a waterhose by accident one time. I had ahold of the brass end of the hose. It gave a little jolt but not bad.

 

Thats funny George. Never seen a pee tube, but I get it. LOL!!!!

 

jon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, in relating to the gas fumes and ignition I've heard that there have been many incidents where people have had that happen due to carrying their plastic gas cans in the back of their trucks that are equipped with plastic bedliners. The plastic gas can sliding or rubbing on the plastic of the bedliner creates the static charge, and touching the metal gas pump nozzle against the plastic gas can will create the spark and ignite the gas fumes.

 

I always make sure to place my plastic gas can flat on the cement before filling it up!

 

Dave

 

------------------

I'm Just Enjoyin' That Great S-S-Sensation; Diggin' My First G-G-Generation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...