ouch....static!

C

crs127

New member
I have a 2005 t4r with cloth seats.
Everytime I get out of the car and go to close the door, I get a static charge.
Some sting and the others are just annoying.
Anyone else getting shocked?
How do I get it to stop?
I tried rubbing Bounce fabric softner all over the seats to but no avail.
Thanks in advance.
- C
P.S. I live in the NorthEast
 
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I have the same thing happen to me, although I don't know what to do about it.

One thing I have read, though, is to be sure to touch some metal outside of the vehicle prior to refueling. You want to discharge this static electricity before you grab the gas pump.

It probably won't be as bad in the spring and summer when there is more moisture in the air.
 
A static charge builds up as you slide across the seat because it has no path to ground until you touch something metal that's connected to the car's chassis. This is worse in winter because the dry air offers almost no path to ground and lets the charge in your body build to uncomfortable levels.

The fix? Simply grab a grounded metal object in the cabin BEFORE you start moving. The static charge will then travel to ground as it's generated and you won't feel a thing.
 
crs127 said:
I have a 2005 t4r with cloth seats.
Everytime I get out of the car and go to close the door, I get a static charge.
Some sting and the others are just annoying.
Anyone else getting shocked?
How do I get it to stop?
I tried rubbing Bounce fabric softner all over the seats to but no avail.
Thanks in advance.
- C
P.S. I live in the NorthEast
Click to expand...

There is an anti-static (anti-cling) spray for clothes. It works by putting a conductive film on the fabric, thus providing a path to "drain" away the static charge that accumulates when electrons are either physically removed or added to the fabric by friction. Spray it on the seats and it should work fine for you. In any event, as a previous poster noted, it most important to
 
Ahh... You just hit on one of the things that annoy me most. I get some nasty shocks from this vehicle. I used to have a car with leather seats, so I never had to worry about it. But --- I opted for cloth when I bought the 4Runner, and now I am wishing I had not.

There is an anti-static spray they make for women's panty hose or something --- I remember my mom using it all the time when I was growing up. The stuff had the worse smell --- it actually made me gag to smell it (which is the only reason I even remember it). I imagine it would work to elimiate the static problem, I just don't know if I could deal with the smell. Of course, it was over 10 years ago that I smelled it --- so, maybe they changed the formula or something so it doesn't stink as bad.
 
All i know is that after moving here to vegas, i learned quick to close the door with my foot or elbow on the outside of the truck.

It suks but there really isnt much you can do... I would try the Bounce Static spray on your seats and see if that helps.
 
khaug said:
The fix? Simply grab a grounded metal object in the cabin BEFORE you start moving. The static charge will then travel to ground as it's generated and you won't feel a thing.
Click to expand...

This man speaks the truth! Works every time. Grab the doorframe before you move your butt off the seat, and you will not shock yourself. Worse comes to worse and you are already off the seat, touch the metal through clothes (shoulder, arm) and it will lessen the shock.
 
I remember some of the nasty shocks I got when I had my sport with cloth seats. I didn't do anything about it and just braced myself whenever I would exit it. You may all be surprised, but I still get a shock here and there from the leather seats. Since it has gotten cold in NJ, I have gotten a few painful shocks. :confused:
 
khaug said:

The fix? Simply grab a grounded metal object in the cabin BEFORE you start moving. The static charge will then travel to ground as it's generated and you won't feel a thing.
Click to expand...
Yup, that's the only sure-fire fix, and it's free! I do it everytime I get out of a vehicle and never get shocked....used to get zapped all the time before doing this.
 
wow, i definitely have this problem. It's so bad that I'm at the point where i'm afraid to get out of my car! The shocks are 20x worse when I'm wearing a wool sweater. I guess it's something that builds character. Unless you forget to ground yourself before filling up at your local gas station. Hopefully it gets better with the spring.
 
I usually just close the driver door with my elbow you still get shocked, but I can hardly feel it. Or do what people said and ground yourself before you start getting out.
 
Happens to me all the time. Its especially intense here in CO in the winter because its so dry. I've resorted to shutting the door with my elbow, I must look like a fagtard when I do it too. Oh well...
 
Back when I was in college, I always used to see this one car in the parking lot that had these 2 rubber or plastic straps (each about an inch wide) that were connected to the undercarriage of the car. They were just long enough to hang down and touch the ground when the car was parked. I just assumed they were some sort of grounding device.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this, or am I just way off on my assumption?
 
The static shocks annoyed me at first, but I barely notice them these days. I've just gotten in the habit of touching the back of my hand or wrist to the door as I'm getting out, then I just close the door normally. The pop isn't as annoying on the back of your hand as opposed to a fingertip. I find that quicker and easier than always trying to make sure I'm touching metal as I'm stepping out.
 
Big E said:
Back when I was in college, I always used to see this one car in the parking lot that had these 2 rubber or plastic straps (each about an inch wide) that were connected to the undercarriage of the car. They were just long enough to hang down and touch the ground when the car was parked. I just assumed they were some sort of grounding device.

Has anyone ever heard of something like this, or am I just way off on my assumption?
Click to expand...

Yup. I think I might've seen some strips with built-in reflectors too. Old school gasoline trucks use to have chains that dragged the floor. :D
 
I must be a masochist, but sometimes I actually like the shock just to see the electricity arc from the tip of my finger to the door panel. I was getting out and I told my friend to "watch this". The spark was actually visible and blue/purple. It was at least half a centimeter. She was like "HOLY CRAP!" you got like mutant powers or something. Man thats a lot of voltage to see it manifest itself visually like that. Sometimes I try just to touch the plastic door handle but only to get shocked by the fueling door as I get gas. It's the 4runner's way of showing affection.
 
Neat experiment to try at home.

Get one of those neon light bulbs they sell at Radio shack. Hold one of the leads, and touch the other lead to the doorknob, railing, or whatever else shocks you. The neon light will energize for a few seconds and you won't get shocked.

Also works well after taking static-y laundry out of the dryer; just hold the other lead near the pile and it will energize.
 
thanks everyone

thanks everyone!
i bought a can of static guard and sprayed all over the inside of my t4r.
seems to work pretty good for now, thanks again.
-C
 
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