My girl just got a remote starter kit installed on her car. Since then everytime she turns the car off, steps out of the car and goes to close the door, it gives her one hell of a shock. Any ideas?

 

you may have some grounding issue, make sure all the ground wires are connected correctly

 

yeah, its just your ground

 

Well, it depends on the vehicle, tires, weather, and shoes too. I used to get poped on my Frontier crew cab off and on depending on the shoes I wore. Some tires generate static discharge for some reason that is collected in the metal body panels that will discharge through you on exit.

It has only happed a time or two on the Acura though. I got used to grabing the door prior to steping on the ground.

Also, I doubt you would ever feel an -12v DC discharge through your body to earth ground. That would be AC. I could be wrong though.

 

It's the winter time, get some rubber/vinyl floormats!

 

Carefull, I heard of fires starting when gassing up because of static discharge.

 

It most likely has nothing to do with any grounding from her car's electrical system. It is basically a static charge that builds up from your girlfriend's rear-end and back rubbing on the car seats. When she gets out and touches the car.... ZAP! The cold/dry weather in the winter makes it much more noticable since static charges don't dissipate into the air as quickly and will build up on your body. She is in Chicago, correct? I suspect it might be cold this time of year there. :P

One way to avoid the shock is to hold on to part of the car body or door frame that has a metal surface before you step out of the car. Keep holding on to the car until you are out and touching ground. Ta-da! No shock.

 

Static Guard Spray !!!

 

Make sure she wears this whenever driving the car. Well it's one way to get rid of static shocks

This is model: Coat ESD Traditional FX-200

Specs:
* Surface resistivity of fabric is 106 ohms per square with only slight deterioration noticed after 50 launderings. (To maximum of 109)
* Static decay rate per 101C method 5000 volts to 500 in less than 0.1 second
* Finish is disperse-dyed heat set. Contains no softeners, hand builders, etc.
* Glass transition rate 450°F, flash point 720°F

Well it sorta weights 1 pound but gets your static free

 

I have no idea if it's the starter, but my wife has the same problem.

It's has to do with the dry air with the winter months combined with rubber mats and rubber soled shoes.

Have your girlfriend ride around with no shoes... See iff it happens then.

Honestly though, I sounds like the weather. Couple more weeks and this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SwankCLS
[B]It is basically a static charge that builds up from your girlfriend's rear-end

 

it's a compliment...she's a shocker

i've avoided shocks by using the black B-pillar part of the door to close the door when getting out

 

This usually happened to me before in my old camry. U rub ur show on the mats and when you come out and close the doors, you will discharge the static. So just go to walmart/kmart/costco...and get some vinyl or rubber mats...this will solve ur problem. Since Rubber and vinyl are static resistant

 

i close it with the door handle and not by touching the black parts by the window

 

They keep the blood from splashing on you too...

 

This is why I have seen cars with straps that touch the ground from the frame. Early run-flat tires had this problem because the tires were a new rubber compound and huge static charges would build up. People put a copper wire surrounded by plastic from the frame so it touches the ground at a stop.

 

Try this: when you get out of the car, grab hold of some metallic part of your car (eg door) BEFORE any part of your body touches the ground. Then, while holding onto the metallic part, exit your car. Grab hold onto your car until you have exited your car entirely, then let go. No more shock for ya!