maurice

My car (2001 Mazda Familia) literally shocks me sometimes....for instance, if I drive from home to work, park and get out, when I touch my car door I get a mild shock...it only happens once each trip...then i make another trip, stop, switch of and get out...mild shock when I touch my door again. At one point I had switched off the car fully, pulled out the key and i as still able to operate my power window for a couple seconds...thoughts?

kargoboy

Yeah, it happens to all of us.
A grounding kit will fix that or I think, there a few how-tos floating around. I need to do this myself one of these days.

MC

oh damn i know how this is.... any links to the groundin kit thing?? or the how-tos to fix it??

Specture

grounding kit didnt make a difference in my car.....(but thats not why i got one)

Da P-Funk!

No. 'Grounding' in this case means a rubber/metal strip that bolts to the chasssis and drags on the ground. Grounding kit is for car elctrical system performance - but won;t help this problem (static electricity).

I just make the habit of 'grounding myself' with my elbow on the door frame as i get out.

Try it.

maurice

Thanks guys, didn't know this was a general issue...elbow thing I will try.

kargoboy

Really? I understand what you are saying but I could have SWORN i read that a grounding kit would help.

hughes412

I get it a lot too, bugs the hell out of me!

tyvan27

That is super weird, cause I thought this only happened to me with my car. Nice to know that nothing is wrong, and it is a common problem.

SciFiMan

I think it depends on the person. Me, I'm just a conduit I guess. I'm always getting static shocks from my car, and office, and all around. Others in my family don't have near the problems. But I was nearly electricuted as a kid so I hate shocks and am very sensitive to it.

Most people on here probably have never seen the straps on the rear bumps of cars dragging on the ground that were so common long ago. You can still order them from JC Whitney I think, although without a big ***, 50 pound chrome bumper, you'll have to hang underneath from the chassis mostly out of sight.

gottacatchup

The shock is caused by a buildup of static electricity on the body of you're car. The buildup is caused but the air moving over the surface. This is more likely to happen in a dryer climate and on longer trips. This is why you're supposed to touch you're car before you pump you're gas so you dont cause a spark when you move to place the nozzle in the car. The only way to prevent this is to live in a humid climate.

Da P-Funk!

Also, the cashmere coat rubbing on the cloth seat can't help either!

Cold and dry climates affected only.

kargoboy

Yeah, that's what been causing it, lol.

chiefmg

Always happens during the winter months. I always try touching the car as I get out, but my girlfriend usually forgets and bitches me out when she gets shocked...sucks when that happens with a kiss! I just tell her it's my electrifying personality!!

dudeondacouch

VWs Rule