GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Is this some oddity with my Vibe or is it happening to others? I get in, drive around, park, get out, then when I touch the door to close it....SHOCK. Basically happens every friggin time. Any ideas???? And yes I am wearing rubber sole shoes.

It's a common problem with most cars. At one point or another I have be shocked by every car I own. It's weather related I assume.

Same thing happens to me all the time, but i use to it b/c im an electrician.

haha. happens consistently to me too. and i try to avoid it a lot of the time and probably end up looking pretty wierd to people who are watching me exit the car. lol

Ever heard of static electricity? Try wearing fleece on a zero humidty day. You will pop the crap out of yourself all day. When I used to install car audio people accused me of causing it all the time.

You generate static when you spin to get in and out of your seat. Hold the door pillar when spinning to load balance your body in respect to the car then spin/swivel whatever to get out. This happens predominantly in winter due to low humidity where excess electrons are not spent through the air as in summer when it is damp(er). Since the car is not grounded (isolated by the rubber tires) you-the human object- is generating an excess in static electricity in relation to the object being the car and presto when you finally touch the load is passed as a zap. You could also wearing a grounding strap from your wrist or ankle to the car's body.Ha....I need to get out more.Andrew

i thought it was all about friction between two materials? i.e. rubbing ur feet along a carpet then touching something..would generate a shock..same thing would be in a car..ur feet constantly moving..plus ur body rubbing against the seat would do the same thing

Yes, the friction generates the static, the relative difference between you and the car is what causes the discharge and "zap!"

cold weather makes it worsei have been getting shocked alot especially by my wifes cavalier

before you get out touch your key to something metal and you wont get zapped

Put a fabric softener sheet in the pocket of your jacket. Helps cut down on static a lot!

Quote, originally posted by pmh013 »Put a fabric softener sheet in the pocket of your jacket. Helps cut down on static a lot!and you'll smell good too

Just make sure if your at the gas station and you get back in your car you touch the car before you touch the gas pump again. Discharge the static.

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »Just make sure if your at the gas station and you get back in your car you touch the car before you touch the gas pump again. Discharge the static.Some states have actually enacted laws forbidding you to get back in the car once you've gone near the pump.I have the same issue in my G6 too. As many have said, the weather definitely plays into it.

I was getting the same zap - even through leather gloves!I grabbed a roll of aluminum tape from work and ran a ground strip from under the seat, through the slot where the seat and back meet - and then left a few more inches exposed and stuck to the back... it's really cut down on the amount of static I build up getting out of the car.I think to eliminate all of it, I would run the tape up the outside left side of the seat and ground it under on the rail or spring.The tires really don't insulate you - it's all the damn plastic in the car. If the steering wheel, shifter, or handle above the door was grounded, you'd be able to painlessly discharge (ugh... never thought I'd type that here) your static... but with all the plastic, you build up quite a charge sliding out of the seat and BANG, you touch the metal and even it all out.

Touch the metal (door pillar/roof) with your bare hand as you are sliding in an out and there will be no static to discharge. You will be constantly equalized.

FOr another blast from the pasthttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15979

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »For another blast from the pasthttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15979or http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=7547

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=26961

My 98 Z24 Cavalier did this to my wife every time! Not ever me though! SHe hated the car for that and was glad I got rid of it!

Quote, originally posted by vibe-04 »Touch the metal (door pillar/roof) with your bare hand as you are sliding in an out and there will be no static to discharge. You will be constantly equalized. Yup. OR if you exit the vehicle w/o touching any metal, after you step out of the vehicle, only touch the WINDOW when you close the door. Touching glass won't shock you.

One thing that has worked for me is to spray the car seats with Static Guard.

It happens a lot in the winter. As cold nights condense the moisture out of the air, the air dries up and has greater static potential. Remember, pure water doesn't conduct electricity very well and humidity greatly reduces the zap.

Quote, originally posted by bogey523 »One thing that has worked for me is to spray the car seats with Static Guard. (removed)!!! are you serious? where is that sold? lol

Quote, originally posted by tcam »(removed)!!! are you serious? where is that sold? lolYes, Static Guard works. I haven't used it on my Vibe but it worked on my old car. I probably bought it from Target or Wal-mart.

Yep it's found at most grocery and discount stores. I actually have a free sample I got and keep in my glove compartment. You do have to reapply every few weeks to month. But it really works.