I guess this has been happening on the passenger side of my car for a long time (says my Girlfriend) but i just recently started happening on the divers side as well.

I'll get out of the car, and as soon as I touch the door (lock knob, or outter edge) I get a nasty little shock. Girlfriend has been getting the same thing on the pass side for months.

What could cause this, and how can I track it down? Any usual suspects i can look at?

thanks!

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Ben Rambow
1970 El Camino SS (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com/code/rambow1.htm)
My old 1969 El Camino (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/july2001.html)
The El Camino Classics Club (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com)
"Whats the matter with the car I'm Driving? Can't ya tell that its out of style..."

Ben, that is static electricity. I think this is greater as the relative humidity drops. The last few days the tempurature in Washinton has dropped and humidity has dropped.

You can get a leather strap that attachs to your car. This should solve your problem.

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Larry
TC # 1000
66 Malibu - under transformation
My 66 Chevelle (http://www.users.qwest.net/~larry_macdonald)

I had this problem in dry and cold Denver weather.

My wife and I found that if we rubbed each other down with moisturising cream it put a stop to the static electricity, but created kids! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

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Steve Jack
-Concept One Pulleys and Brackets
-Marketing Technologies Limited
-Northern/Southern Rodder Magazine's "Jack'Stands" technical column author/originator

Ok, sorry I guess I wasn't very clear... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

On the passenger side it has been happening since I bought the car 6 months ago- and it is a VERY noticeable shock. If its static, its the most I've ever had.

I suppose the driverside could be related to the weather, but i think it is something else... Should not happen EVERY time... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

kinda hard to impress people with your car if they get electrocuted everytime they get out of it. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Ben, I would find it hard to imagine something that would give you a shock only when you get out the passanger door. Unless of course you park next to an electrified fence.

It could be you are wearing rubber sole shoes and don't ground the car so you get a static discharge.

Steve, I like your remedy. I wonder if my wife will fall for that one.

I always wondered if it was related to sliding out of the seats. I had a car that did that all the time, and badly too. I would get out and then not touch any steel part after my feet hit the ground. I'd close the door by pushing on the window. I guess you could make sure you've got a hold of metal as you put your feet to the ground but I never got that to work for me.

Peter

Although I doubt this possibility, you may be completing the ground path for the dome light switch before the door opens far enough to allow the contacts to close. It's hard to imagine a door that could be that well insulated from ground when closed but some people are so thorough at paint and detail that even the striker or hinges don't ground the door while closed. If this might be possible, try removing the dome lamp fuse to see if it goes away.
Besides this, there has to be a component that has been added to your doors or the dome lamp circuit that has the capability to retain a magnetic or electrical charge like a condenser in a points-type distributor can if you charge it up by connecting it to the battery momentarily. Then, you throw it to someone and then,,, well, I think all of us old guys know what that does.
Something is discharging it's electrical field into you when you provide yourself as the first most convenient path to ground.
Any chance you have some killer speakers in the doors that are connected to some big capacitors in the speaker amps? Speaker attaching screws grounding to the door frames?

Nikola Tesla would know,
I'm going to Vegas for a few days so,

Good luck,

Louie

It HAS to be static electricity. Sliding across the seat will cause it, as will the type of clothing the person is wearing. What type of seat covering do you have? The only solution I have right now is to grab hold of the metal door handle BEFORE you begin your move to exit the car. This way, you are already grounded before the static electricity has a chance to build. OR, find a plastic door hanlde instead. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif Of course, you could always go to Radio Shack and purchase one of those wrist grounding straps we techs use while working on static sensitive components. Keep the jumper clip grounded to the door handle! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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MalibuJerry350
TC Member #1279
Original owner '70 Chevelle.
591,000 miles on car.
Hey, if it's got wheels, DRIVE IT!
My Chevelle: http://hometown.aol.com/erie614/myhomepage/index.html

When you slide out of the car, touch the metal on the door with your car key or a coin. The static spark will still be there, but you won't feel it through the key or a coin. This will work where ever a static charge is present.

Static electricity built up from the tires while driving. Different sets of tires have different properties, so some REALLY build up the charge.

Solution (for you): have your passenger get out first. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

AHSOM70:
I had the same thing happening in my pick up truck for about a year, a nasty shock every time you get out. I unknowly fixed the shock problem by getting the interior seats included shampooed at the local detail clean up shop. This stopped the shocks for about 6 or 7 months. Dave

If it is static you can try a trick my dad used in his office when I was a kid. As most people know most fabric softeners have an anti-static component. If you mix 1 part fabric softener (2 table spoons max) ? parts water (depends on size of container) into a spray bottle shake well and spray your seats and carpet when you park the car for the night. Over night it has a chance to dry and should eliminate the static plus your car will smell better as well. Fair warning if you have rubber floor mats take them out before spraying, this mixture makes surfaces slick as snot.

Lol... That is the funniest suggestion I have heard- at the same time, it totally makes sense- So I'm gonna give it a shot!

I'll let you all know if it works!
Thanks for all the help!
Ben


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Ben Rambow
1970 El Camino SS (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com/code/rambow1.htm)
My old 1969 El Camino (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/july2001.html)
The El Camino Classics Club (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com)
"Whats the matter with the car I'm Driving? Can't ya tell that its out of style..."