My MINI zaps me

[olddad]

Every time I get out of the car and touch the door handle to close it (don't want fingerprints) I get a pretty good static shock. Anyone else? Is there a simple cure?

[Grinder]

I'm shocked! I guess driving the MINI is just electrifying! (har har. Two bad jokes i know i know)

Seriously though, it's the cloth seats. Something about your moving about in combination with your clothes is causing the static to build up. Try putting those anti-static sheets in the dryer, honestly. Also, if you touch the handle with something metal that you're holding (like a ring), you wont feel the shock even though the static will discharge.

[olddad]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not nearly well enough organized to use the antistatic strips but will try the antistatic spray on the seats.

[Sejanus]

I've got cloth seats and I get the static shock experience every once in a while as well.

[Minty]

i only get it in the summer?!? and since i am in the UK...it doesnt affect me for long

[KenL]

Are you aure it's the seats? I had always thought it was caused by the car discharging through you to earth when you get out. The car is wearing big rubber boots remember

I don't think it's a MINI thing as you get this with all cars so please don't put this one in the faults and fixes forum

Perhaps you've got new shoes ?

To prevent this, hold onto some metal part of the door wilst you put your foot on the ground. This keeps you and the car at the same potential.

I'm an electronics engineer so I hope I'm talking sense but feel free to correct me

KenL

[Electrc109]

I am always trying to avoid putting figerprints on my MINI too!!

[MiniShuttle]

When I have this problem, and I have on many cars, I conveniently touch my calf to the running board as I step out of the car. Somehow, getting shocked in the calf is not as bad my figure getting shocked by the door handle.

If I'd only known about the dryer sheets before! My MINI never shocks me. Maybe because I have leatherette. Now that I've said so, I'll probably get a big shock today at lunch.

[gjenkins]

and I get shocked as well.

[sjbartnik]

I second KenL's recommendation. If you are touching a metal part of the door as you swing your foot out and contact the ground, you won't get shocked.

If you open the door, get out, and THEN touch something metal on the door, you WILL get shocked.

[Grinder]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
Are you aure it's the seats? I had always thought it was caused by the car discharging through you to earth when you get out. The car is wearing big rubber boots remember

To prevent this, hold onto some metal part of the door wilst you put your foot on the ground. This keeps you and the car at the same potential.

KenL

I'm pretty sure it the seats one way or another. Either that or you're wearing a fleece jacket or something similar. The problem is, with the rubbing of the materials you and the material build up a static charge. The first time you touch something metal (like the car) your body will discharge into it, creating the "zap". It doesn't matter that the car isn't grounded, as it is a large metal object that's relatively neutral. It's essentially a large neutral reserve for the extra electrons to flow into.

Example... You run around on a carpeted floor with your socks on, squirm around in a plastic school chair (like we've got in school), or anything simimlar to build up a static charge. When you touch someone, you'll "shock" them a bit (often quite fun to do on purpose). You can still shock them even if they have rubber shoes on and aren't grounded. They're just more neutral than you are, so some of the charge flows into them until an equilibrium is reached...

[cosworth]

Used to get this all the time with another of my cars that had a velour interior. You could strap yourself with a heavy ground lead to any metal chassis part of the car to constantly drain off the static charge. Of course, if you forget to un-clip when you go to get out, you'll fall on your arse, prompting huge amounts of laughter and ridicule from other people in the parking lot.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote:

Originally posted by olddad
Every time I get out of the car and touch the door handle to close it (don't want fingerprints) I get a pretty good static shock. Anyone else? Is there a simple cure?

DITTO !!! Every time. It's annoying 'aint it?

Try holding you key in you hand and touching the door handle with it first. That should relieve the static charge without giving you a jolt. You probably don't even have to actually touch the handle just get close, the spark should jump the gap.

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by Grinder

It doesn't matter that the car isn't grounded, as it is a large metal object that's relatively neutral.

Engineering lesson: Your car is grounded. It has a battery, which grounds through the body. Otherwise you're entirely correct. It doesn't happen to me on my seats though, I guess my personality isn't as electric. Also I don't wear fuzzy clothing. Especially as its winter if you wear a wool or fleece jacket and have cloth seats, yowch!

[BigMack]

I have developed the habit of keeping my hand on the door jam, or on the lower front corner of my tinted window, (Metalized tint film)near the side mirror.

That one spot has finger prints, but I can live with that.

By holding on, while you exit, the static dissipates, and no shocker.
I'm going to try the anti-static sheets, or spray too.