Honda Car Forum

--
I have been to the dealer several times with no solution only agreement that
yes it is a problem. When we get out of our 2002 Odyssey and go to close
the door you can get a nasty shock. It doesn't happen all the time and is
usually worse during the winter. Does anyone have the same problem? If so
have you found a solution. Thanks.

Susan

Dswolfson wrote:
> When we get out of our 2002 Odyssey and go to close
> the door you can get a nasty shock.

So you step out of the car and when you reach for
the door to close it you get a shock?

I can think of 2 possibilities: tires or fabrics

Did you get new tires? Tires are supposed to be
designed to bleed off the charge. But sometimes they
don't. The typical fix for this is a grounding strap
(or different tires).

If you have cloth seats: some fabrics will interact
with seat covering and build up a charge. I believe
this is aggravated if the AC is running and drying
the air. I had this with one car and the only fix
I came up with was touching a piece of metal (ie:
house key (not fancy car key with transmitter)) and
then touching the metal to the car before touching
the car with my hand.

> If you have cloth seats: some fabrics will interact
> with seat covering and build up a charge.

Fabrics: are you more often shocked when wearing
synthetic fabrics vs less often shocked when
wearing cotton?

--
We have new Michelin tires but it happened before we got the new tires as
well and yes we have cloth seats. Can you explain what a grounding strap
is? Is it something you can get at a auto supply store?

Susan


"Brian Stell" <bstell@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:r1Vwe.1298$j04.313@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com ...
> Dswolfson wrote:
> > When we get out of our 2002 Odyssey and go to close
> > the door you can get a nasty shock.
>
> So you step out of the car and when you reach for
> the door to close it you get a shock?
>
> I can think of 2 possibilities: tires or fabrics
>
> Did you get new tires? Tires are supposed to be
> designed to bleed off the charge. But sometimes they
> don't. The typical fix for this is a grounding strap
> (or different tires).
>
> If you have cloth seats: some fabrics will interact
> with seat covering and build up a charge. I believe
> this is aggravated if the AC is running and drying
> the air. I had this with one car and the only fix
> I came up with was touching a piece of metal (ie:
> house key (not fancy car key with transmitter)) and
> then touching the metal to the car before touching
> the car with my hand.
>
>

In article <E-ednYnHbd5EYF7fRVn-qA@rcn.net>,
"Dswolfson" <dswolfson@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I have been to the dealer several times with no solution only agreement that
> yes it is a problem. When we get out of our 2002 Odyssey and go to close
> the door you can get a nasty shock. It doesn't happen all the time and is
> usually worse during the winter. Does anyone have the same problem? If so
> have you found a solution. Thanks.

Tires.

"Brian Stell" <bstell@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:h5Vwe.1302$j04.1167@newssvr21.news.prodigy.co m...
>> If you have cloth seats: some fabrics will interact
>> with seat covering and build up a charge.
>
> Fabrics: are you more often shocked when wearing
> synthetic fabrics vs less often shocked when
> wearing cotton?

I can say the worst is wool slacks and leather soled shoes! With this
combo, I can almost guarantee a visible arc on a dry winter day. A long
time ago on this board I read that toll booth operators don't like to take
change from Hondas!

"Dswolfson" <dswolfson@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:462dnSkMGZHIqFnfRVn-1w@rcn.net...
>
>
> --
> We have new Michelin tires but it happened before we got the new tires as
> well and yes we have cloth seats. Can you explain what a grounding strap
> is? Is it something you can get at a auto supply store?
>
> Susan
>
You may have to call around or even order one from the internet, but thay
are standard enough devices. You can even use any piece of braided wire.
They are braided straps that attach to the body of the car and dangle
underneath. Many people set them up to touch the ground, but it really isn't
necessary - just the sharp fuzzy end is enough to bleed the static
electricity off. You will see the same things (but much pricier) on the
wingtips of small aircraft - they are called "static wicks." When I was in
avionics many years ago I went on a test flight with a man who complained
all his radios filled with noise when he got in the air. Sure enough, before
he even lifted off the noise rose and got worse with increased speed. It
turned out every one of his static wicks had broken off.

Mike

You can try Static Guard spray, found in the laundry section of many grocery
stores.
Spray your car seats with it. That should take care of any static generated
when
you slide accross your seats.

"Dswolfson" <dswolfson@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:462dnSkMGZHIqFnfRVn-1w@rcn.net...
>
>
> --
> We have new Michelin tires but it happened before we got the new tires as
> well and yes we have cloth seats. Can you explain what a grounding strap
> is? Is it something you can get at a auto supply store?
>
> Susan
>
>
> "Brian Stell" <bstell@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:r1Vwe.1298$j04.313@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com ...
>> Dswolfson wrote:
>> > When we get out of our 2002 Odyssey and go to close
>> > the door you can get a nasty shock.
>>
>> So you step out of the car and when you reach for
>> the door to close it you get a shock?
>>
>> I can think of 2 possibilities: tires or fabrics
>>
>> Did you get new tires? Tires are supposed to be
>> designed to bleed off the charge. But sometimes they
>> don't. The typical fix for this is a grounding strap
>> (or different tires).
>>
>> If you have cloth seats: some fabrics will interact
>> with seat covering and build up a charge. I believe
>> this is aggravated if the AC is running and drying
>> the air. I had this with one car and the only fix
>> I came up with was touching a piece of metal (ie:
>> house key (not fancy car key with transmitter)) and
>> then touching the metal to the car before touching
>> the car with my hand.
>>
>>
>
>

Dswolfson wrote:

> I have been to the dealer several times with no solution only
> agreement that yes it is a problem. When we get out of our 2002
> Odyssey and go to close the door you can get a nasty shock. It
> doesn't happen all the time and is usually worse during the winter.
> Does anyone have the same problem? If so have you found a solution.
> Thanks.
>
> Susan

are the belts original? i replaced the belts on my 89 civic recently
and the alternator belt is a "bando antistatic". not why i bought the
belt, but since i've changed it, i haven't had any static on the car. i
used to get it before. worth a thought.

"John D Newport" <johndnewport@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:411xe.8549$Iv6.3293@trnddc03...
> You can try Static Guard spray, found in the laundry section of many
> grocery stores.
> Spray your car seats with it. That should take care of any static
> generated when
> you slide accross your seats.
>
I've had success with it, although it doesn't last long - the effect wears
off a lot after a day or so. I didn't keep at it long enough to tell if the
antistatic effect would build up after a while... it might.

Mike