Anti static straps?

mccarf · 26 Apr 2017 at 23:48

My civic gives me an electric shock any time I climb out of it after it's been running and I touch the metal on the outside. Obviously the solution is to not touch the metal but it's pretty hard not to do so in car parks with tight gaps etc. Do these anti static straps on the bay actually work or are they useless/break easily?

Gaygle · 27 Apr 2017 at 00:30

Does anyone else get static shocks from your car or just you? If it's just you, I'd look at the clothing you're wearing.

mccarf · 27 Apr 2017 at 00:59

Gaygle said:
Does anyone else get static shocks from your car or just you? If it's just you, I'd look at the clothing you're wearing.

Everyone who rides in it gets it

bremen1874 · 27 Apr 2017 at 01:02

If you touch metal while you're getting out (before your feet touch the floor) you shouldn't get a shock.

Howard · 27 Apr 2017 at 07:33

I always used to get a zap from my old Mondeo. I presumed it was caused by my cheap polyester work trousers and just grabbed the door as I stepped out!

Current car doesn't do it though.

mccarf · 27 Apr 2017 at 07:59

Ah so touching the metal before I get out stops it then! I'll give it a try

. Cheers!

russell664 · 27 Apr 2017 at 08:01

The magic of being grounded

Diagro · 27 Apr 2017 at 09:05

My wife's has started to do this. It's very odd

Glanza · 27 Apr 2017 at 09:29

Have you got rubber floor mats in or straight onto the carpet?

mccarf · 27 Apr 2017 at 09:41

Glanza said:
Have you got rubber floor mats in or straight onto the carpet?

They're carpet style mats. Pretty old & manky though

robj20 · 27 Apr 2017 at 09:52

My new mondeo does this gives me a zap nearly everytime I get out.

Roland Butter · 27 Apr 2017 at 18:49

Diagro said:
My wife's has started to do this. It's very odd

When you touch your wife you get a electric shock ?

Is she AC or DC ?

Diddums · 27 Apr 2017 at 19:08

Lol, remember when those things first came out, every middle aged man / woman had one in Holland, dragging from the car's rear bumper to prevent the occupants zapping themselves

Nick1881 · 27 Apr 2017 at 19:10

robj20 said:
My new mondeo does this gives me a zap nearly everytime I get out.

Oh no, I get my new Mondeo tomorrow and I hate getting static shocks. Current Passat has never zapped me.

snapdragon69 · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:34

My wife's Renault does this, seems to be caused by the engine running, as we sat idling on the drive recently, forgot something in the house, I got out to get it and ZAP!

Meridian · 27 Apr 2017 at 21:17

Diddums said:
Lol, remember when those things first came out, every middle aged man / woman had one in Holland, dragging from the car's rear bumper to prevent the occupants zapping themselves

At the time they were actually sold as a cure for car sickness. And my first car, a Peugoet 309, used to have a button inside the driver's door which you pressed to earth yourself before you got out.

Hyburnate · 27 Apr 2017 at 22:01

I get this off of the gloss black B Pillars on my car, they're being wrapped so hopefully that stops it

DXP55 · 28 Apr 2017 at 15:23

My Mazdas always had a anti zap button on door - 323 was on top of door panel by locking button and 626 were on back of door handle - The Mondeo I had was horrendous so used a anti zap strap I used for circuit boards - screwed one end to earth on door and strap I put round the door handle - Looked cack but it worked

You might find holding your key tight in your hand by metal part then kick door open then earth key before getting out.

Use to really pee me off and couldn't find any reason why it did it - My Focus doesn't do it. Thank God.

adolf hamster · 28 Apr 2017 at 15:38

Meridian said:
At the time they were actually sold as a cure for car sickness. And my first car, a Peugoet 309, used to have a button inside the driver's door which you pressed to earth yourself before you got out.

surely the issue is that the whole car and its occupants have accrued a static charge, so earthing to the car isn't going to help?

Haggisman · 28 Apr 2017 at 18:43

mccarf said:
My civic gives me an electric shock any time I climb out of it after it's been running and I touch the metal on the outside. Obviously the solution is to not touch the metal but it's pretty hard not to do so in car parks with tight gaps etc. Do these anti static straps on the bay actually work or are they useless/break easily?

If you touching the metal of the car is giving you a shock, then it's not the car that's the issue, it's you. That shock is your static discharging to earth through the car, earthing the car more isn't going to help, you need to disipate the charge you are building up, which is usually caused by wearing insulating shoes (e.g. with thick rubber soles) or synthetic fabrics of your clothing rubbing against the synthetic fabrics of the car seat.

Solution; wear natural fibres and real leather shoes