Weird how my first post didn't show any text, I wasn't able to edit it, or reply to it?

Anyways it's this rubber or plastic strip that mounts to the underbody of the car and drags along the road. It's supposed to release static energy built up from the car. I remember seeing it on somebody's freshly painted 3rd Gen (I think it was a gray or white Max with duals?).
Just curious on what it's called and where I could get one.
Thanks,
-Cyrus

 

I know what you're talking about, C. Basically it's a 'grounding strip'. I've seen people use those little strips that I might've used to drag behind a bicycle for 'cool points' when I was growing up.

Gosh, I think I need one of those things... I get the f**k shocked outta me every time I get outta my car.

 

must be a third gen problem because my max has never ever shocked me
now our '97 grand cherokeee is another matter altogether... that thing can probably power my subs with the amount of static it builds up

 

Ya know... now that you mention it, I've yet to hear about that issue on anything other than a 3rd gen.

 

I dont know where you can get one but they were pretty big in the 80s especially in Germany. Kinda like the chrome curb finder wisker thingys you saw on cadillacs back in the day.

 

You could steal one off of a gasoline tanker truck.

 

they use actual metal links, don't they? In any case, I thought about doing this after I got shocked a crapload of times but from what I gathered, you actually need to discharge YOUR BODY of the static rather than the car. It builds up when you rub against the cloth seat. I don't know about leather though, but I have yet to get buzzed. Oh and I think it is prone to happen more in cooler climes than in warmer.

one more thing: plastic or rubber technically won't work....they are poor conductors. You want something like cloth (or a bag strap) with a single sliver of metal like copper running through it. That's if they actually help.

 

I think Seamax has one? I know I have seen one a red 3rdGen.

 

I get shocked MSD style EVERY time I get out of my car. So it isn't limited to 3rd gens.

 

I think its the cloth seats. I have the strip on my 2k2 and since then havent had static shock. Also I think it grabs attention to my car somewhat.

 

I never got shocked either .. . 4th gen cloth seats.

 

It depends on a lot of things guys - 5 of my parents' cars have leather, but only 2 shock me. I've heard it is related to Michelin tires, a poor ground, all sorts of things. I just want to get rid of it! Lots of great responses but still no name or where to purchase!
-Cyrus

 

None of my family's 4 cars (all equipped with leather) shock me when I get out. However, whenever I'm in a friend's car with cloth seats, I always get shocked.

I'm convinced it's because of the static electricity you build up by rubbing/moving around on the cloth seats.

 

You could try spraying Static Guard on your seats. Not trying to be a smart a$$, it might work.

 

There's an easy way to avoid getting shocked with out getting one of those things on the back of the car (my parents old Skyline used to have one till it fell off). Just hold onto the outside metal door pillar as you step out of the car. Always works with me, I've got cloth seats on my 4th gen and if I don't do that, I always get a shock

 

They were popular in the 60's and 70's. Especially on Chevy Impalas.

 

WTF is everyone talking about?? This has never happened to me in any car I've been in

 

import/rice shops have em. I saw em @ razo a couple months ago.

 

yeah i get the hell shocked out of my fingers when i get out of my 3rd gen...more so in the winter time than another other seasons. think it was seamax that has that grounding strip.

 

it is very prevalent in colder climes, like i said above. I don't know what the connection is...havent looked it up, but that's something I've noticed. No bzzt!! in phoenix, az....big BZZZT!! in Kansas. you could attach a piece of metal that contacts the body of the car that you unconsciously touch before you get out...kinda like on the door handle or something.

 

New tires, such as the Michelins shock more. I've heard that it was due to the silica in the tire consturction, and less carbon in the tires. Wears longer, but builds up static electricity. I'm actually surprised that cars don't have a grounding strap when being refueled-airplanes do to prevent static electricity ignited fires.

 

Probably because of where you live. How cold does it get there?

 

Cyrus, here ya go, man!!!

It's called a Vehicle Ground Strap (scroll about 3/4 of the way down the page - you'll see it)

Hope that helps!

 

It has less to do with temperature and more to do with humidity. Humidity is almost always low when it's cold, so that's why it's more noticeable. Static electricity builds up in/on your body more when it's dry, and less when it's humid.

 

Not to shock you guys, but both parties can and will charge up. You, and the car. Most often it's you that obtains the positive charge from the fabric your wearing as it brushes against your interrior. Then you turn around and touch a large grounding object (here's where the car comes in) and you get zapped.

Rubber straps don't carry current, metal (copper) does. Those straps do nothing to electricity and don't create a path to ground.

Next time you get out of your car, immediately touch a large metal sign post, or the person standing next to you instead of your car, and see how hard you get zapped.

It's the same principle of scuffing your socks on the carpeting on a dry day and then touching your buddies earlobe.

 

Been there, done that, got

 

Thanks nubian! I found some on eBay as well but they don't look nearly as good (much smalled line and cheap hardware etc).

Tom, the idea is that they are metal inside of a rubber hose, and they reground the car to.... the ground (road in most of our cases). The concept being that without the charge in the car there will be no shock? Does that sound plausible? BTW who makes your dash kit, looks like great fitment!

I remember the guy (seamax?) that had it said that he saw less lint accumulation on his dash but he had never been shocked by his car so it was mainly for looks.

-Cyrus

 

This is a joke, isn't it? From what I see in that website, I'm with the products they're selling, an apron to wear while you're in front of the computer? Come on, geez, who's gonna get killed from computer emitting a lot of frequency? A hat to shelid from electromagnetic field?

 

I live in Miami. I guess it doesn't happen to me since it's so humid down here.

 

Word. The same happens to me.
I get nervous when I pump my own gas.
(static discharge + flammable liquid/vapor = 1 really bad day)

 

heh, I get a shock on my hand every time I get out of my car and touch the door to shut it. it's not like it's that big of a deal, sissies!

 

it's a big deal when a girl you're taking to lunch, dinner, etc also gets shocked

 

hah, I don't want anything to do with the type of girl who's going to be complaining about petty **** like that anyway!

 

I'm a goofy lookin ****, so I need to get rid any unnecessary negatives I can when I'm takin out a girl.

 

Hahahaaaa...