My Jimny is electrifying

Every time I step out of it, I get a massive static shock! Much more that any other car I have owned.

I'm thinking maybe it is a combination of the seat fabric creating a charge and the rubber floor mats keeping me insulated and letting the charge build up.

Anyone got ideas that might help?

PB

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It's generally caused by sliding your bum over fabric seats.  If you hold somethng on the metal body as you get out, it allows the charge to escape to earth more gradually.

I have the EscapeGear canvas seat covers, the static shocks stopped in mine when I got those.

No electric shocks on mine and I have the rubber mats. I think rather than the mats it’s the tyres which provide the insulation letting the charge build up.

In the old days you used to see vehicles fitted with a conductive strip under the car and in contact with the ground, not sure if they worked or are still available.

Robin

Soeley wrote:

I have the EscapeGear canvas seat covers, the static shocks stopped in mine when I got those.

Same here, zero shocks since fitting the covers.

The conductive strips were snake oil, and also derived from a misunderstanding of the cause.

You don't often get electric shocks when getting out of cars with leather seats (or synthetic leather, as in the SZ5 and gen3 SZ4).  Leather doesn't have the same triboelectric effect as cloth.

You don't often get electric shocks when getting out of cars with leather seats (or synthetic leather, as in the SZ5 and gen3 SZ4).  Leather doesn't have the same triboelectric effect as cloth.

The SZ5 Jimny doesn't have leather seats, they are cloth, at least they are in mine.  My Gen3 SZ4 had [faux] leather seats.

Robin

Oh, I didn't know that.  The old "pleather" seats in the gen3 were great.

Yes, you can still buy "Snake Oil" straps but info. from the web says hold onto something metal as you exit the car and problem solved.
It wont cost you anything, so give it a try.

Roger

Roger Fairclough wrote:

Yes, you can still buy "Snake Oil" straps but info. from the web says hold onto something metal as you exit the car and problem solved.
It wont cost you anything, so give it a try.

Roger

Touch something metal where, part of the car or something outside of the car?

Personally, I've not experienced this with any car I've owned, but I have experienced it with several rentals, I step out of the car, turn to close the door and zzzzzzappppp!!!!!!!  The fix, at least for me, is to NOT touch anything metal, but to put my fingers against the glass window and push the door closed.

The issue here is the entire vehicle has an electric charge and when I, standing on the road outside the car touch the metal of the cat, it discharges through my body, so touching a metal object in or out of the car is unlikely to do anything other than zzzap me.

"You don't shoot the messenger". As I said, the info was taken off the web. I don't suffer with the problem so I don't need a solution. If I did an earthing strap would be an obvious choice.

Roger

Escape gear covers stopped it for me too.