Static charge.
April-29th-2003, 02:47 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,102
Static charge.
Does anyone elses Pro carry a static charge all the time? I swear, it happens everytime I move the car; from 1000 km to 100mm. It doesn't matter! It is so pissing me off. What am I not doing? I know the car has 4 rubber tires and therefore not grounded but, is there something I can do without putting on one of those dorking ground straps on? My Pulsar didn't give me this much trouble. Any help would be appreciated. 
April-29th-2003, 04:42 PM
#4
WAZZU
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Seattle,WA
Posts: 613
I think this is dependant on how dry the weather is....it seems that the shock gets worse during the dryer seasons or when it is about to rain.
But this bring up a good point of what not to do when you fill up your gas tank.
Do not get back into the car until you fill up the tank, even though it is cold outside.
When you first stop to fill your tank, you ground yourself from static when you get out of the car and touch all the metal (including the gas cover hatch). But some individuals will put the nozzle in the car and get back into the car due to the weather being to cold. What happens next is that you build up static when you do that. Once you go out to take the nozzle out, you put yourself at risk for igniting the gas fumes coming from your tank with the static charge you just acquired again.This will cause you to combust and catch on fire. Most of the time this would happen to women.
Sorry about the rant, to much TV.
But this bring up a good point of what not to do when you fill up your gas tank.
Do not get back into the car until you fill up the tank, even though it is cold outside.
When you first stop to fill your tank, you ground yourself from static when you get out of the car and touch all the metal (including the gas cover hatch). But some individuals will put the nozzle in the car and get back into the car due to the weather being to cold. What happens next is that you build up static when you do that. Once you go out to take the nozzle out, you put yourself at risk for igniting the gas fumes coming from your tank with the static charge you just acquired again.This will cause you to combust and catch on fire. Most of the time this would happen to women.
Sorry about the rant, to much TV.
Last edited by SEA_P5; April-29th-2003 at 04:44 PM.
April-29th-2003, 04:52 PM
#5
Protege Owner
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 731
I get zapped more often when I am wearing one of my pairs of work shoes. For some reason they seem to isolate me more when I drive (and maybe the sole interacts w/mats to generate static?) and when ever I have that pair of shoes on I always get zapped.
I also have to be careful at work with those shoes and make sure that I touch metal before touching any circuit boards
as I managed to kill one a month or so ago.
I also have to be careful at work with those shoes and make sure that I touch metal before touching any circuit boards
as I managed to kill one a month or so ago.
April-29th-2003, 08:22 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 88
yap, i'm electroman,
i have to warn all my passengers to be careful when they exit the car, that they might get shocked, even though i'm the only one getting socked, no one else has been shocked yet.
i have to warn all my passengers to be careful when they exit the car, that they might get shocked, even though i'm the only one getting socked, no one else has been shocked yet.
April-29th-2003, 10:34 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 1,122
Originally posted by 90210brandon
Thanks you two. I'll make a conscious effort to 'ground' myself before I leave or enter the vehicle.
Thanks you two. I'll make a conscious effort to 'ground' myself before I leave or enter the vehicle.
April-30th-2003, 02:59 PM
#9
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 8
I have had the same problem. It only happens if I have started the car though. If I get in and out without it being started, no shocks. If I get in, start it and drive it out of my garage, blam I get nailed.
This is the only car I have had this problem with. Doesn't matter what I wear or type of shoes. It' really pissing me off. One thing I had happen the other night. When I went to fill up, I must of managed to get out without touching the car. When I went to flip the gas lid open, ZAP! Now if there had been any gas fumes, I would not what to imagine what could have happened.
Maybe Mazda needs to be made aware of this issue as it could lead to some bigger problem, like crispy critter at the gas station.
This is the only car I have had this problem with. Doesn't matter what I wear or type of shoes. It' really pissing me off. One thing I had happen the other night. When I went to fill up, I must of managed to get out without touching the car. When I went to flip the gas lid open, ZAP! Now if there had been any gas fumes, I would not what to imagine what could have happened.
Maybe Mazda needs to be made aware of this issue as it could lead to some bigger problem, like crispy critter at the gas station.
April-30th-2003, 04:37 PM
#11
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: GA
Posts: 460
well, it is a more common problem with this car than others, as evidenced here. I also have the problem, very bad I might add.
Why is this car different? Thats the question..........
Maybe the material they are using for the seats?
Why is this car different? Thats the question..........
Maybe the material they are using for the seats?
April-30th-2003, 06:10 PM
#12
whatever
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: cyberspace, where else?
Posts: 490
Could be the fabric... I got zapped all the time getting out of my 88 Olds Calais, too. But it never happened in my B2000 (vinyl seats). But yeah, watch out for it at gas stations. It might never be a problem, but then again...
May-1st-2003, 01:39 AM
#13
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO.
Posts: 26
My 1985 VW Scirocco may have zapped me occasionally, but I specifically remember a news headline (was even on TV) that said that the Michelin tires being made for VW had a compound mixture that generated more static than other tires. (Something about a polyester or other synthetic additive in the rubber.) VW eventually switched tires in the factory and owners stopped complaining about getting shocked while exiting the vehicle. This all happened back in the late '80's, I think.
My Honda Prelude had a full leather interior and even on the most dry days I never generated enough static charge to shock myself, so not every car will do it. But I've never had a car zap me with static electricity the way my new Protege does. I'm not talkin' about a little ol' "snap"... but rather a pain inducing "CRACK"!
It's the cloth seats that does it, IMO... along with the lack of humidity. Lately the weather has been getting more humid and I don't get shocked as badly, but I'm gonna try that trick that carguycw mentioned.
~OMW
My Honda Prelude had a full leather interior and even on the most dry days I never generated enough static charge to shock myself, so not every car will do it. But I've never had a car zap me with static electricity the way my new Protege does. I'm not talkin' about a little ol' "snap"... but rather a pain inducing "CRACK"!
It's the cloth seats that does it, IMO... along with the lack of humidity. Lately the weather has been getting more humid and I don't get shocked as badly, but I'm gonna try that trick that carguycw mentioned.
~OMW
May-1st-2003, 02:34 AM
#14
formerly chastan
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: California, USA
Posts: 2,350
Originally posted by Old_Man_Wiggins
My 1985 VW Scirocco may have zapped me occasionally, but I specifically remember a news headline (was even on TV) that said that the Michelin tires being made for VW had a compound mixture that generated more static than other tires. (Something about a polyester or other synthetic additive in the rubber.) VW eventually switched tires in the factory and owners stopped complaining about getting shocked while exiting the vehicle. This all happened back in the late '80's, I think. .... ~OMW
My 1985 VW Scirocco may have zapped me occasionally, but I specifically remember a news headline (was even on TV) that said that the Michelin tires being made for VW had a compound mixture that generated more static than other tires. (Something about a polyester or other synthetic additive in the rubber.) VW eventually switched tires in the factory and owners stopped complaining about getting shocked while exiting the vehicle. This all happened back in the late '80's, I think. .... ~OMW