# Static Shock From My Car **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222 "2002-07-28T11:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/1 "2002-07-28T11:11:25Z")
In winter I always get a shock upon closing my car door (after driving somewhere anyways). Normally out of habit I either wait until the passenger get’s the shock OR I just close the door my pushing on the window. Anyways my question is, could I avoid all this if I were to take a piece oc wire and attach it to something metal under the car and leave it long enough so it drags on the road? Would that be enough to ground it? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/2 "2002-07-28T13:06:02Z")
> **[Car News, Blogs & Analysis | Cars.com](https://www.cars.com/news/)** > > Browse up-to-the-minute automotive news and analysis, including expert reviews of the latest cars on the market, at Cars.com. > [@](#): > > You have three options here. One is to discharge yourself while exiting the car. If you hold your key and touch the end of it to some metal part of the car, the built-up charge should jump from the end of the key to the car, “hurting” the end of the key and not your finger… > > The second option is a pair of rubber grounding strips that you hang off your undercarriage. You can buy these at auto parts stores. They have a metal wire embedded in the rubber, and they hang down and discharge the static as it builds up. And they work pretty well. The only downside is they tend to be real cheap junk, and they wear out every six months or so and need to be replaced. > > Your final option is to hang a chain under the car, like the old fuel trucks did. That’s certainly the cheapest solution. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/3 "2002-07-28T20:56:56Z")
Almost certainly the static charge is due to sliding across the seat of your car as you get out. The static buildup of the car itself is unlikely to be the cause (despite what the Car Talk guys say). Hence you need to either ground yourself (the key thing is a good idea) or do something to prevent static buildup via the seat. For the latter, you might try “static guard” type products that you spray on fabrics. Note that these shocks are enough to a: kill your car radio if you touch your car antenna first. b: start a fire filling up your car. (A lot more women than men cause gas station fires. Some suspect it’s because the women are more likely to get back into their car while filling up, e.g., to get their purse, and get back out- touching metal and yowsuh.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9a28c/32.png) [@What\_a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_a)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/4 "2002-07-28T21:11:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > \*\*Hence you need to …do something to prevent static buildup via the seat. \*\* This IS the answer. The problem HAS been solved, and you will quickly recognize this when you consider: 1. This is now a problem for you, but you have been traveling in cars all your life, so it cannot be generic to all cars, but must be specific to your car. 2. If you happpened to, as my bother did, buy plush acrylic seatcovers, you would find the shock was at annoying proportions. When he switched to a leather seatcover, the shocks were gone. ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/5 "2002-07-28T21:28:47Z")
This happens to me also every winter (certainly in my last 2 cars, I don’t recall for my first car). It happens in my friends cars too. I can just go in the car to grab something from the glove box and it still does it. My solution, when exiting any car in the winter I hold on to a metal part of the door or chasis as I get out. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/6 "2002-07-28T21:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > \*\*Almost certainly the static charge is due to sliding across the seat of your car as you get out. The static buildup of the car itself is unlikely to be the cause (despite what the Car Talk guys say). Hence you need to either ground yourself (the key thing is a good idea) or do something to prevent static buildup via the seat. For the latter, you might try “static guard” type products that you spray on fabrics. > > Note that these shocks are enough to a: kill your car radio if you touch your car antenna first. b: start a fire filling up your car. (A lot more women than men cause gas station fires. Some suspect it’s because the women are more likely to get back into their car while filling up, e.g., to get their purse, and get back out- touching metal and yowsuh.) \*\* Oh I love this one… She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! She did it !!! Bawahahahahhaha I always wanted to say that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/static-shock-from-my-car/121222/7 "2002-07-28T21:55:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ftg \* > \*\*Almost certainly the static charge is due to sliding across the seat of your car as you get out. The static buildup of the car itself is unlikely to be the cause (despite what the Car Talk guys say). Hence you need to either ground yourself (the key thing is a good idea) or do something to prevent static buildup via the seat. For the latter, you might try “static guard” type products that you spray on fabrics. > > Note that these shocks are enough to a: kill your car radio if you touch your car antenna first. b: start a fire filling up your car. (A lot more women than men cause gas station fires. Some suspect it’s because the women are more likely to get back into their car while filling up, e.g., to get their purse, and get back out- touching metal and yowsuh.) \*\* Ah check this [link](http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.htm)