ive got a 1992 turbo and when ive been out in the car for a drive when i come to get out of the car, i turn the engine off then take the keys out of the ignition, open the door and get out, i then go to touch the car door to shut it when i am outside the car and i get a small electric shock??
Whats that all about
Its callled static electricity.
Although its not actually electricity, its just a charge that builds up on the body of the vehicle.
Try wearing different shoes and see if it still does it....sounds mad I know, but the reason you get shocked is because you are "earthed" in some way so the charge can escape from the car through your body.
alan wheeldon wrote:ive tried the shoe thing but its still the same out come
Is there anyway around this, do i have a bad earth on the car or something??
Most likely it's a reaction between the seats and your clothes. Get full leather seats, and stop wearing tracksuits. Or is it woolly jumpers? You could even find a bit of bare metal in the car somewhere, and keep your hand on it as you climb out.
I've heard that if you get a plant sprayer, and spray the seats with diluted fabric conditioner it can help.
Andy
The worst thing about static shocks is you think you've sussed what was causing it, then for days you don't get a shock, you get all into a false sense of security, then when you're looking your coolest getting out and people having a bit of a look at your car, you touch the door and CRACK you end up jumping 12" into the air
Static electricity is electricity. It charged ions on the outside of a non conductive surface. Often glass or plastic. It is either on you caused by rubbing clothes and you get a shock when it earths through the car or its on the car and it earthing through you. Give up the nylon pants.
Believe it or not, it's also affect by ambient weather conditions!!
You'll find it goes in a week or so, I myself have been getting them recently, and not just from the car!! Put the key in the lock of the front door the other day and a mighty big blue spark jumped the gap
I seem to remember that Victor Meldrew suffered from this alot...if that makes you feel any better!!!!
I do too...you end up feeling like a monkey in a scientific test, is it aversion therapy or something, but you soon learn not to touch the door when you get out, I always close it pushing on the glass, that seems to do the trick