Car shocking the living poo out of me...

[GraingerGuy]

Yeah...like the title says. What can I do to combat this? I'd really like to get out of my car and not be able to hear and see the static electricity as it lances out to my poor unprotected skin.

[DarkFury]

You could try touching the door frame just before stepping out of the vehicle so that you dissipate the excess charge you have built up.

[Prngr44]

I've also seen those rubber strips you can mount to your bumper to better ground your car, but it's a pretty hoosier looking solution.

[Jeffbx]

Hold onto the frame as you get out.

[Prngr44]

Hold onto the frame as you get out.

But don't forget to let go before you close the door.

[Markel]

There are also anti-static sprays that might help.

Be sure to test the product on an inconspicuous area before applying generally.

[Napoleon54]

I've also seen those rubber strips you can mount to your bumper to better ground your car, but it's a pretty hoosier looking solution.

OH! So that's what those goofy-looking things hanging from the ass of my neighbor's car are?

[Thesifer]

OH! So that's what those goofy-looking things hanging from the ass of my neighbor's car are?

I think those are the "Balls" that people have on their cars! My Civic Shocks me all the time. oh well though, it feels nice after a while.

[ShawnLee]

I've also seen those rubber strips you can mount to your bumper to better ground your car, but it's a pretty hoosier looking solution.

I'm sure MechMike and others would know far better than I, but from what I understand, it's not just rubber. The strips have pieces of wire that connect the car to the ground, and release the static electricity.

I always thought that grounding yourself on the car wouldn't work because the difference was built up based on the car's separation from the ground through non-conductive tires.

[kimchicowboy]

You could try touching the door frame just before stepping out of the vehicle so that you dissipate the excess charge you have built up.

works for me 99% of the time.

[Markel]

OH! So that's what those goofy-looking things hanging from the ass of my neighbor's car are?

I think the purpose of those straps is to supposedly eliminate static that might interfere with radios, etc. That static would be caused by the airflow over the car body as the car is moving, and may or may not have any effect on the "seat of the pants" static.

[GraingerGuy]

See...the thing is...I do ground myself on my car frame before I come out...and still I get shocked. I'll try the anti-static spray...see if that works.

[TofuNinja]

man I hate when that happens.. hurts like a mofo. It only happens every so often with me

[Jeffbx]

See...the thing is...I do ground myself on my car frame before I come out...and still I get shocked. I'll try the anti-static spray...see if that works.

Touching the frame BEFORE you get out generally won't help, since you're still not grounded at that point. That's why you should hold on WHILE you get out - then your hand is in contact with the frame when you ground yourself, and the static won't arc.

[Prngr44]

Moisturize! (But then we'd have to move it over to the "Softer Side")

[mechmike0034]

I'm sure MechMike and others would know far better than I, but from what I understand, it's not just rubber. The strips have pieces of wire that connect the car to the ground, and release the static electricity.

I always thought that grounding yourself on the car wouldn't work because the difference was built up based on the car's separation from the ground through non-conductive tires.

Correct on both counts. The strips were originally devised to keep the driver and any toll collector from shocking each other at the point of exchange.

I don't know of any cure for the static electricity syndrome which will work every single time. I hold my key in hand as I am exiting and use it to touch the door latch (unpainted) on the inside edge of the door before touching the door with my hand.

[InfiniteNothing]

Wear gloves?

[Markel]

man I hate when that happens.. hurts like a mofo. It only happens every so often with me

It happens more often to me from putting on or taking off my jacket, then giving my wife a kiss. Man, that hurts!

[yippiekiyeh]

My older car used to shock me. So as a precaution, I'd just slap the side of the car, it still shocks me, but it's not a surprise since the act of slapping my hand against the metal of the car negates the pain of the static electricity.

[Chgoman]

Yeah...like the title says. What can I do to combat this? I'd really like to get out of my car and not be able to hear and see the static electricity as it lances out to my poor unprotected skin.

Personally I'd be more worried about the living poo than getting shocked...

[Prngr44]

Personally I'd be more worried about the living poo than getting shocked...

[nhbilly]

usually i touch the door with my elbow or shut the door with my elbow...

[GraingerGuy]

Personally I'd be more worried about the living poo than getting shocked...

lol! You know...you're probably right!

I actually do slap the car or I close the door with my feet. That usually works also. But yeah...one time I went to lock my car, because I forgot to before I closed the door, and a lance of static electricity jumped from the lock to my keys shocking me in the process.

Bad words were said.

Now that it's a little wetter outside, I'm not getting shocked too much...but it's those dry time man.

Maybe anti-static bounce would work? Hmmmm....

Touching the frame BEFORE you get out generally won't help, since you're still not grounded at that point. That's why you should hold on WHILE you get out - then your hand is in contact with the frame when you ground yourself, and the static won't arc.

Oops...actually what I meant was that I put my leg right on the frame of the car and then lift myself up. Then I get a nice little jolt on my leg.

[gwilks98]

I usually just hold my leg against the bottom of the car as I step out. Then I don't get shocked anymore.