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I'm afraid my car is going to kill me...literally

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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:17 PM
Original message
I'm afraid my car is going to kill me...literally
And probably take out half a city block to boot.

Every time I get out of my car it shocks me. I mean big *ZAP! shock, not just your garden variety little static *snap*. Like painfully shocks me. This has become more and more annoying, and especially when I go to get gas. I just have this crazy idea that sparking like a Roman candle whilst surrounded by metric ass-tons of fuel might, just maybe, be hazardous to my health.

Can't afford a new car, don't have a bike (want one but can't really afford that either at the mo')...any other suggestions for preventing my untimely demise? x(
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:19 PM
Response to Original message
1. What, exactly, are you doing
when the shock happens?

Specifically, what are you touching?
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:20 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. I get out of the car, go to close the door
*ZAP!!*

Yes, I could not close the door but then I'd have touch the gas pump instead. Or the car as the gas fumes are piling up all over me.
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Aiptasia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:23 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Dangerous short
Sounds like there is some sort of electronic component or wiring that's shorting out somewhere on the car frame/body. Have you had any electrical work recently or noticed any electrical issues with anything on the car?

I'd definitely have it checked out. That is, unless it's one of those new alternate fuel static charge balloon cars.
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. I dunno if that's it
Other people ride in and hedges also drives the car...doesn't seem to happen to them. :shrug:
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Cathyclysmic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:22 PM
Response to Original message
3. holy crap!
I have no clue, but call or ask the car talk guys...http://www.cartalk.com/

You are bound to get on the air with that problem. Be careful!
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. Yay! Car talk!
I think I'll do that! :D
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wildhorses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. if you are going to call cartalk
let us know. I want to hear it!!!
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MissB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:24 PM
Response to Original message
6. Please get it checked out
and use full service until you do. :scared:
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #6
12. I was looking for a full service today
Nearly ran out of gas looking for one. :(
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:24 PM
Response to Original message
7. That's what's getting people blown up at gas stations
getting in and out of their car built up enough static to create a spark to the pump and they're suddenly Exxon Flambe

it's obviously time to hire a chauffer

( no, really, get it checked out )
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #7
14. I'm liking this chauffer idea
:think:

;)
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jpgray Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:25 PM
Response to Original message
9. Get a rubber door-closing wand
Sheesh, :eyes:
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #9
15. U R TEH SMRT!!
:bounce:
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eyesroll Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:25 PM
Response to Original message
10. Is this the Monte Carlo?
If it is -- it used to shock the hell outta me, too.
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dolo amber Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Yep
Must just be our electric personalities. :silly:
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NNadir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 03:32 PM
Response to Original message
16. You must be some kind of environmentalist with that electric car.
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caty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 04:52 PM
Response to Original message
17. Check this site out: ( maybe it will help)
Edited on Mon May-22-06 04:54 PM by caty
http://www.static-sol.com/articles/static_shocks.htm#What about shocks when I get out of my car?

Scroll down to:What about shocks when I get out of my car?
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jukes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
18. hoaky, but a temp work-around till
you find a permanent solution:

dangle a bare wire from the bumper till it grazex the roadway. or get those "zapper hangdowns w/ the lightning streaks on them. no use for lightning, but shd ground out the car so you don't.

BE AWARE: if you have an actual short-circuit to the body of the car, this cd drain your battery, so test the system o'night 1st when you DON'T have to be somewhere next morning.
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johnnie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:09 PM
Response to Original message
19. Years ago that happened to me
Edited on Mon May-22-06 05:36 PM by johnnie
What had happened is one of the spark plug wires popped off and was arching across the frame. Just a thought. :shrug:

I say check the spark plug wires.

On edit: I didn't think about the car being off..lol. Yeah, it's probably static. When you get out, hold on to the metal part of the door until your feet touch the ground.
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rug Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:26 PM
Response to Original message
20. This is why electric cars are doomed.
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:32 PM
Response to Original message
21. Cloth seats, right?
It's static created as your butt/back slide against it before exiting.
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Gidney N Cloyd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:38 PM
Response to Original message
22. Buy a little aerosol can of Static-Gard (sp) and give the driver's seat
a shot every once in a while.
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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 05:41 PM
Response to Original message
23. This happens to my SO too
He gets shocked by his truck all the time and he thought it was the truck. But I don't get shocked by it. Then the other day, we took my car somewhere and he got zapped by it - I never get zapped by my car.

I have no explanation for it - it's strange.
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elehhhhna Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-22-06 06:35 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. he shuffles when he walks? that'll build up static...
or else he shold stop rubbing balloons on his hair
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