philodox

Literally... now that winter is closing in, I am started to get shocked every time I get out of my 8 after a drive! Damn it stings.. I have to hold onto the top part of the door while I get out to ground myself to the car otherwise I get a nice little shock.

This is my first winter with my 8. Is this the norm with the 8? Anyone else have this happen in cold weather?

09Factor

Yes it happens to me as well. I don't live in the cold but the nice warmth of the AZ sun. This happens to us ALL year. Dosen't matter what car, it deals with the relative humidity.

StewC625

Actually, this is the norm with most cars, especially those with low-rolling resistance tires - they build up static in them, the charge gets transferred to you, you step out of the car, and ZAP.

I find that if I put my hand on the door frame (the metal) as my foot contacts the ground getting out of the car, that I don't get shocked as much. If I don't contact metal, step out to the ground, and touch the car, KAPOW!

FYI, don't feel bad. Every Honda or Acura I've had since 1985 has done this as well. Not an -8 idiosyncracy.

Stew

philodox

Yup, that's what I end up having to do. My last car was a Honda Civic and it had the same problem.. Just that here in NJ, it only happens in the winter.

truemagellen

tell your girlfriend it is an exotic sex toy

RUmble

THat's what I think of my gf.

truemagellen

so do I, my girlfriend is Asian

VmanX

it's typical on a very dry day. your butt slides across the seat building up an electric charge. it doesn't help to be wearing fabrics that attract electricity either, as with the windbreaker pants that ppl normally wear to break dance. ouchies..
i just close my door by pressing against the window... but often times, i forget and "zap"!

rotten42

its never happened to me

MadDashRX8

Be careful "zapping" yourself after getting back out of your 8 while fueling. Don't zap yourself on the pump handle; gas fumes and static electricity are B.A.D. Vapors only have to be between 1.4 and 7.6% in the area of the handle to ignite. There's videos out there that tend to indicate women are more susseptible to this, as they are more apt to get in and out while fueling up. Guys apparently stand there and take it. Be safe!

StewC625

Answer to all of it is to touch metal parts of the car - even the painted metal will transfer the static ... I always discharge myself prior to engaging a fuel hose by putting my hand on the rear fender for a few seconds first.

RXE16T

:D :D :D Well worded..... sorry couldn't help myself.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

My MX-3 had a great little feature - an inch-long button on the back edge of the inside of the door trim near the latch and just below the window that said "touch" on it.

If you did as instructed as you got out, you were treated to a wonderful ZAP-free exit.

Internally, this button was grounded on the door frame, but the button itself was only a semiconductor so the charge was discharged over a 3 dozen milliseconds or so rather than all at once. If you REALLY built up a big charge, the button would feel "fuzzy" as it took down the 20k volts or so.

Want to have a real good time? Get out of the car real carefully and then touch one of the metal buttons on your cell phone and then the phone to the car.
You can repeat the experiment with your laptop if you so choose.

Chrisbert

Don't know about winter here. 82 and raining all the time lately.

8's enough

my other car does that all the time i have cloth seats in it ,just spray some static guard on the seats and it will go away. i have leather in my 8 so no static as of yet.

Stone

You use to be able to buy a grounding strap that hangs under the car from the frame that will eliminate the static build up and the shocking results, prob was that they wear out from contact with the road after awhile.

shazusa

I also live in AZ. I have learned to always touch my arm to the door before I close it. The zap on the arm does not hurt. The fingers are much more sensitive.

If you're a masochist, try kissing the door first! :D

Actually, my wife and I discharge ourselves before we kiss.

Static is just a constant reality in the dry southwest.

f1 tech

best thing to do is to hold on to the metal part of your door as you're getting out to neutralize yourself. works everytime!