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 )

 

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

 

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 ***!

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 *** 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!