anyone constantly getting shocked by their rx8? i get zapped everytime i get out of the car, either touching the car itself, people or opening metal doors?

its starting to get on my nerves now, and its not a small shock either, i actually see blue sparks jump when i have keys in my hand opening the front door... is there somethin wrong with my 8? or is this normal? because i never had this problem with my last car, a VW GTI...

Do you have leather or fabric seats?

thats just shocking...

im too much...

ross:D

be careful when filling your tank. Static electricity is main reason for flash fires when filling up.

no its not. watch mythbusters on discovery channel. they had a sequence on the cell phone static schock starting gas station fillup fires.

In the winter I got shocked everytime I got out and touched it-since our humidity has gone back to it's miserable normal self I have not been shocked

Do you have aftermarket stereo equipment?

Get some Static Guard in a can and lightly spray on the car mats and CLOTH seats. If you have leather, I dunno. I've never put it on the leather and would be afraid of discoloration.
I've used SG for years and never have a problem.
(It doesn't get sticky or discolor the mats too, so no worries :D )

Originally posted by niadvance
no its not. watch mythbusters on discovery channel. they had a sequence on the cell phone static schock starting gas station fillup fires.

I watched that episode. They DID say that static electricity caused the fires. What they "busted" was cell phones starting them - no matter what they did, the phones didn't start any fire.

Their explanation was that people who use cell phones were more likely to get in and out of their car - causing a build up of electricity. If the individual didn't touch a ground to get rid of it, they could light up the pump.

Their conclusion was to not move in and out of the cars, touch the frame of your car to get rid of the electricity, and if your car / pump catches fire, do NOT pull the pump out of the car, as that would cause far more problems.

yeah -- I have the same problem. can see blue sparks about an inch away from touching the door to close it when getting out. Have cloth seats -- going to try some static guard to see if it will help.

I have also experianced this shocking when exiting my 8. it started about a week ago. And your right the shock isnt little.

On a side note I drove a late 90's ford escort wagon as a work car and that thing could shock hard enough it numbed your finger.

The above post was actually me

Originally posted by niadvance
no its not. watch mythbusters on discovery channel. they had a sequence on the cell phone static schock starting gas station fillup fires.

Ummm YES IT IS!

Due to high carbon content in our tires the car cannot dissapate built up static charge to the ground. This is basic electrical theory and physics.

All vehicles that move through the air will generate a small static charge due to the movement of air molecules over the body of the vehicle, friction with the road and the general electrical nature of the chassis. After all the whole car is a great big ground.

This is more so an issue with aircraft especially helicopters. Try to hook up a sling load to a hovering helicopter without first attaching a ground hook. I garraunty that the static discharge will knock you 20-30 feet...on your ass!

It is a known fact that static electricity from the chassis can travel from the car thru the fuel nozzle to ground thru you. The jump from the car either through the surrounding metal at the fuel filler or body can be great enough to cause a spark. That depends on the amount of charge built up in the car. That spark will ignite the fumes that are present at the mouth of the filler neck or the nozzle. It is so much of a problem that at least in the Army aviation fuel handelers first attach a ground strap between the nozzle and the acft PRIOR to opening the fuel filler port.

My '95 Mazda 626ES had little pads on the inside of the door handles that would equalize the electrical discharge and minimize the amount of shock you would normally receive.

Also the amount of shock you may receive will be dependant on several factors. The type of clothes you wear. The more polyesters you wear the more of a chance of getting shocked , Humidity levels in the air will also make a difference. Cloth seats will cause a greater chance of shock. Generaly natural materials i.e wearing cottons and leather seats will protect you better.

When you open the door just touch you leg to the lower door sill while your foot is on the ground and that should be enough to ground the vehicle and you!

:D

I haven't noticed it in the Rx-8 yet as I have leather seats, but all the Chevy cavaliers we have at work shock me all the time. It does get annoying after a while. That's why I use my foot to close the doors on the one @ work. :)

gas and static (http://www.nbc10.com/news/1771649/detail.html)

meowloud is correct static guard will help

This usually happens when the weather dries up (ambient humidity). I just always grab the edge of the door before I put my feet out. If your making contact like that you wont get jolted when you make ground. Alternatively hold out your key, while touching the metal and touch the other end to the keyhole and you'll see that nice spark that you just avoided feeling :D

you get shocked because the car Dose not like you LOL. thats what i think when i get shocked!!

am just messing aruond man :D

Originally posted by IKnowNot'ing
Do you have leather or fabric seats?

Fabric seats... hmmm and my GTI had leather, that could be the reason??

Originally posted by Genom
This usually happens when the weather dries up (ambient humidity). I just always grab the edge of the door before I put my feet out. If your making contact like that you wont get jolted when you make ground. Alternatively hold out your key, while touching the metal and touch the other end to the keyhole and you'll see that nice spark that you just avoided feeling :D

thanks for the tip, will see if it makes a diff...

also, it seems to happen regardless of the weather, it happened when it was winter and now the weather has warmed up, its still happenin :mad:

My Accord shocks me EVERY TIME I get out of it, regardless of weather. I haven't had it happen in the 8 yet. Interesting how leather vs. cloth seats make such a difference. I'm also going to try static guard, since I still drive my Accord from time to time- thanks, meowloud.

I get static buildup everywhere in the winter - cars, office chairs, sofas, you name it. Come to think of it though, I don't think my 8 has ever shocked me in the 2 months I've owned it, presumably due to the leather seats (I could've powered the Vegas strip with the static electricity generated by my last car). Maybe if I get a leather sofa and carpet I'll stop getting shocked around the house too. Alternatively, I guess I could just start spraying Static Guard on my ass come November.

fabric is the same as rubbing your shoes on the carpet as a kid to shock your friends. it's the fabric !

if you don't have fabric guard around the house, a Bounce Fabric softener sheet and rub it on the seat fabric. It works (for a few weeks, at least)

I got shocked when it was cold, not since it's been warmer. I don't think it's that big of a deal. My Accord did the same thing.

But I do always touch the door frame and get rid of the static before I mess with the gas nozzle!

Hold on to the metal that goes around the window of your door as you're getting out of the car (before you stand up, hold it as you stand up). Alternatively, hold the metal part of your key and use the other end of the key to touch the metal on the car - the spark will leap from the key, not your finger, and won't hurt.

Generally the static that zaps most people is not from the air rushing over the car, but the fabric on their clothes rubbing on the fabric of the seat giving them a nice charge as they stand up, then when you touch the door to close it, zap.

I saw a video of a girl pumping gas, she started filling up, then got back in the drivers seat of the car, then got out again. When she touched the gas pump handle the fumes ignited and there was a fireball - so - getting in and out of your car at a gas station is a bit dangerous, especially if you don't touch the car frame before you head back to the gas nozzle.

Originally posted by sferrett
I saw a video of a girl pumping gas, she started filling up, then got back in the drivers seat of the car, then got out again. When she touched the gas pump handle the fumes ignited and there was a fireball - so - getting in and out of your car at a gas station is a bit dangerous, especially if you don't touch the car frame before you head back to the gas nozzle.

Yes...but did you notice her adjusting her sweater just before pumping the gas? Watched that video 2-3 times...

N-E-ways...I have fabric seats and have not gotten shocked (yet).

Of course I have a grounding strap attached to the car when parked and I drag a 5 foot length of chain behind the car while I drive.

Originally posted by Katchoo
Of course I have a grounding strap attached to the car when parked and I drag a 5 foot length of chain behind the car while I drive.

:D LOL

I've threatened to do this to my friends Toyota Echo- damn thing actually hurts me with huge visible static discharges. When I wear my nice Italian wool pants, I make a point to drive to lunch in my car only... those things combined with his seats make lightning shoot from my fingertips to his door when I get out.

None of my leather-seated vehicles have exhibited this at all, no matter how dry the air is in the winter.

You know, I just remembered, my old Accord had leather seats and it shocked me. Wonder what it is about the 8's leather seats that is different.

Originally posted by sferrett
I saw a video of a girl pumping gas, she started filling up, then got back in the drivers seat of the car, then got out again. When she touched the gas pump handle the fumes ignited and there was a fireball - so - getting in and out of your car at a gas station is a bit dangerous, especially if you don't touch the car frame before you head back to the gas nozzle.

Where is this video? I'd like to show it to my girlfriend so I can get her to knock that off. Sometimes I worry too much.

http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID=760

notice how she doesn't touch any part of the car as she gets out the second time - if she had reached out and held onto the door frame as she stood up I doubt the incident would have happened.

at stupid videos there is an RX7 that does 215 MPH with bad results

http://www.StupidVideos.com/?VideoID=567