Hello ORG members,

Recently I started noticing a small electric shock after opening my door and touching the steel(painted) surface. This only happens after the car is driven. What can be wrong? where should I look?

thanks,
serge

 

Dry Cold weather makes static electricity be easy generated. Try doing this in humid weather, and wearing non-synthetic clothes.. I bet it won't happen then.

 

It seems to do it all the time. I don't think it the weather. the battery however is fine and doesn't drain fro weeks if left. I don't know where to look.

 

i agree with what nicks79 said. this happens to me in the winter too. it has to do with the dryness.

 

Yep, it's called static electricity. Just make sure not to let it happen when you are at the gas station.

 

happens to me too, only when it's cold.

 

Recently it started doing it all the time?

It's the weather. It'd colder and drier. I got in the habit of putting my hand on the door frame as I get out of the car... before moving in the seat (that's when the static builds) and I don't get shocked any more.

Try that.

 

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp

 

hold the painted surface of the car before you touch the ground with your feet and you might save yourself the pain.

 

If you search long enough (I lost the link) you will find a small family type company that makes foot long rubber straps. They have an eyelet in one end, which you bolt to something under the car, while the strap itself drags across the pavement. At speed, the straps lift off the ground, but when you stop, they dissipate the static electricity. The rubber straps have a high carbon content and are conductive to high voltages.

I used to see these on old 70s cars now and then, but never knew what they were for. I finally located a pair this summer but hadn't put them on.. now that its cold the static is back, but it's too cold to get under the car and install them!!!

 

I'm a UH-60 Black-hawk mechanic and even on those things they use the static discharge wics close to the tires. So when the helicopter touches down the end of the wics drag on the surface discharging all electricity.