Static shocks

[JMB]

Bit of a dim question but here goes....

I've got a '99 T reg (red, with a hint of pink!) bog standard V40 and I've noticed that when I get out of the car after driving it I always get a static shock when I touch the metal on the driver's door.

Is it just me? Should I start to wear flash proof pants or what? My old 440 never gave me this problem.

Any advice gratefully received.

Janet

[GorgeousGeorge]

janet

think this is all dependent on footwear, used to get it in the beemer when i wore my trainers, static build up from your feet rubbing on the carpet/rubber, dont seem to get it in the V40 though !!

not a lot of help but just a thought

scott

I tried posting this yesterday but it didn't work for some reason...

I had this problem on my 440 and my V40. As goerge says footware seems to affect this. However, there is a little gadget that I got from Halfords (in Holland, I don't know where you would get them in the UK). It's called 'Anti Shoc', has two brass connectors. You hold one end and touch the car with the other end. It gives a glow and when the glow dies down you can touch the car without getting shocked.

Stu

Static is quite often generated as you leave the car by the movement of your body across the fabric of the seat. This gives you a potential charge that is different to your car body. The first you know about this is when you touch the door, either when you are outside the car putting the key in, or when you brush against the bodywork on the way out.

Your footwear does make a difference, if you wore copper shoes (as I quite often do at the weekends), the static charge would be dissapated to the car body and there would be no potential difference between you and the car body.

Fortunately, there is an easier way of getting rid of / not generating charge in the first place. You simply hold onto the top of the door as you slide your way out. As long as there is an electrical path between you and the car body no static will be generated. Method #2 (used when carrying something in both hands) is to open the door and stick one leg out in such a way that it touches the ground and the lower door frame...then slide out keeping both contact points in place.

I used to be scared to put the key in the lock once I had dismounted, generally I would hold the metal of the key and gingerly approach the lock. The inevitable 'pap' and a quick blue spark always made me jump until I got used to holding onto the door frame on the way out.

The only downside of this is that each car I own has marks on the door frame where I get out of the car holding onto my keys at the same time....still...never get a shock anymore....Tim

[JMB]

Great tips - although I'm a bit concerned about why Tim would wear copper shoes at the weekend (?!) but perhaps his personal life is a lot more colourful than mine.

Thanks for the advice.

Janet