C5 mk1 estate Electric shocks

[qprdude]

Ah, OK Peter. Never had a problem with static in a car. The only time I can remember is from an escalator moving handrail once or twice.
This means of course, it has less to do with the car, and more to do with the seats and clothing right? I guess some people must be more susceptible than others then.

[Mandrake]

Yep, seat material, clothing, shoes and humidity are the main factors.

I've only had maybe one or two shocks from the doors on my current Xantia and I put that down to the leather seats versus fabric, although the air tends to be a lot wetter over here too...

The humidity must be low for a static charge to build up and its friction between the seat and your clothes where the charge builds up. (Think of a plastic comb and a balloon) Even if a charge builds up you generally won't be shocked if the soles of your shoes have poor insulation because as soon as you put your foot on the ground the charge bleeds away gradually (over a second or so) without shocking you. If your shoes have thick high quality rubber soles with good insulation the charge won't bleed away to the ground - that's where you'll tend to get a good shock. So its highly dependant on the kind of shoes you wear whether you'll get a shock.

Keeping your hand on the door as you get out causes the charge on your body to bleed away slowly through the body of the car and the tyres to earth. (Tyres have impurities in the rubber and tend to be dirty so aren't as good an insulator as a good pair of soles on shoes)

[Peter.N.]

I have probably only experienced this a couple of times in nearly 50 years of driving, once was in a Vauxhall Velox with vinyl seats and I can't remember the other but exceptionally dry weather sets the stage for it. If you home is also very dry your clothes will be to, any synthetic clothing will complete the scenario.

Peter

[qprdude]

Good job I wear only the finest lambswool , Leather shoes and silk shirts then.

[Stickyfinger]

Just do not put these on !....deadly sparks !

[ej2095]

Just do not put these on !....deadly sparks !

lol passion killers

[isisalar]

Experienced this static frequently when I was in the motor trade. Brand new cars seemed to be far more prone than others oddly. The combination of new car, stored in the sun, nylon velour seats, polythene seat covers and certain footwear would produce quite violent shocks with visible sparks, until I adopted the feet first and earth system outlined by Simon. Haven't noticed it for years.
Cheers
Paul

[Stickyfinger]

Just do not put these on !....deadly sparks !

lol passion killers

Not in my world , add nylon sheets and watch her eyes light up like a pin ball table !

[Old-Guy]

Try fabric softener in the wash - they're all claimed to reduce static!