The Ford Barn

Downeaster · 11-23-2010, 08:43 AM

I've been getting a mild shock when I touch the metal parts of the door when I get out of the car. Not all the time and its not static electricity. Voltage has got to be higher than the 6 volts coming from the battery. Leaking coil or condenser? Thanks All

Ron/IA · 11-23-2010, 09:46 AM

I am going to do a little guessing here and address the problem with the engine off. My thoughts tell me that the coil and condenser are not causing the shock. The condenser isn't big enough, and the coil is grounded with the ignition switch in the off position.

You are correct that the voltage is "probably" higher than 6-volts, and that is because for static to discharge with a spark (I am guessing there is a spark) it will be higher than 6-volts. I think you are incorrect that it's not static electricity.

I can only think of one suggestion at the moment; run cables from the "+" side of the battery to both the transmission, and the frame/body. Then see if that helps.

Good luck, it is not easy addressing a static problem.

Peter J · 11-23-2010, 11:16 AM

When it discharges, are you getting an arc? What is the humitidy down there now and is it breezy? I agree with Ron in that it's probably static.
Pete

Jim Brierley · 11-23-2010, 11:40 AM

I agree too although it most commonly occurs in hot, dry weather.

IrishHills · 11-23-2010, 11:46 AM

Maybe it's your Nylon socks.

Tom Wesenberg · 11-23-2010, 11:47 AM

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Cover the driver's seat with a large bath towel and see if that stops the shock. I think you are creating static electricity when you slide off the seat.

Special Coupe Frank · 11-23-2010, 11:48 AM

I get it frequently in dry weather from my modern cars with lots of plastic and pile fabric upholstery...

I vote for static... I 've gotten some pretty nasty shocks from my A in the cold dry winter...

Patrick L. · 11-23-2010, 12:23 PM

Just for the heck of it you could try attaching a short length of a rubbery material to the vehicle[frame] thats just long enough to contact the ground and drag that around for awhile to see if that helps or if the problem really is static[thats gets my vote too]..

Keith True · 11-23-2010, 01:20 PM

You're going to find that it IS static electricity.I have a big problem with it,and I don;t know why.From the time the leaves fall,until the ground gets muddy in the spring,I have a terrible time with it.I have gotten into the habit of slapping the metal doors in my house before I grab the knobs.That snap on the palm of my hand hurts a lot less than the snap on my fingers.Same thing with the stove,fridge,washer,dryer,anything big and metal in the house.Most cars are the same way,except for my 96 Dodge truck.For some reason that one never bites me.I was sitting in a 54 Studebaker this morning,when I got done twisting around and went to jump out I grabbed the windshield post and got belted.I'm the only one here it happens to.Think about all the cars in the 60's that ran around with two straps hanging down in the rear.When you bought a new car then the first thing you did was to run to Sears or Western Auto and get a set of seat covers to protect it.One slide across them and you built up quite a charge to release.Some people build it up,and some don't.I have a two foot flourescent light in the headboard of my bed.This time of the year I can slide my hand over it and it will glow.It won't throw any light,it just glows enough to show where it is.My wife rubs her hand on it and it stays dark,no glow at all.She also never gets shocked in the house either.

ford1 · 11-23-2010, 04:47 PM

ever notice the strap hanging down from the gas tankers? its there to ground the truck so there will be no spark discharge, you can do the same thing by bolting on one of the old type woven battery straps used on the old cars as a ground straps, bolt to the frame and bolt on a piece of copper or metal to it just long enough to touch the ground when your stopped, if set up right it wont drag as you drive down the road , just when your stopped, that should stop the discharge

pooch · 11-23-2010, 05:57 PM

I agree, whack the back of your fist against a metal part of the body before exiting..

Static only hurts when you move slowly and give it time to arc.

Cool and dry weather is the common culprit.

Ron/IA · 11-23-2010, 10:20 PM

Downeaster - Try to understand this; I get a shock everytime I exit my Silverado pickup, but have never been shocked by my Model A. How's come? I have no idea.

What I do with my pickup is quickly touch (as suggested above) my forearm to the door's edge as I exit. And get this; I never get a shock getting into the pickup.

PS. Also, my pickup shocks me no matter what time of year.

BillLee/Chandler, TX · 11-24-2010, 06:25 AM

Air that starts at 30 degrees is very dry when you warm it to 70 or there-abouts: static.

cannon · 11-24-2010, 07:27 AM

as you leave the car reach over and touch your wife's ear. you will leave the car so fast, you wont even fill the arc.

)

Keith True · 11-24-2010, 08:40 AM

I do that to my wife while she is snoring.I touch the tip of her nose.She grew up in a sawmill in Maine,and really knows how to swear.I had a dog that was leery of me in the winter too.After a couple snaps she wouldn't nose right up to my hand.

11-23-2010, 08:43 AM	#1
Downeaster Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: York County Maine Posts: 20	Getting electrical shock when exiting car I've been getting a mild shock when I touch the metal parts of the door when I get out of the car. Not all the time and its not static electricity. Voltage has got to be higher than the 6 volts coming from the battery. Leaking coil or condenser? Thanks All

11-23-2010, 09:46 AM	#2
Ron/IA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Amana IA Posts: 527	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car I am going to do a little guessing here and address the problem with the engine off. My thoughts tell me that the coil and condenser are not causing the shock. The condenser isn't big enough, and the coil is grounded with the ignition switch in the off position. You are correct that the voltage is "probably" higher than 6-volts, and that is because for static to discharge with a spark (I am guessing there is a spark) it will be higher than 6-volts. I think you are incorrect that it's not static electricity. I can only think of one suggestion at the moment; run cables from the "+" side of the battery to both the transmission, and the frame/body. Then see if that helps. Good luck, it is not easy addressing a static problem. __________________ Ron/IA 1929 Fordor Steelback Hawk A Model A Ford Club http://hawkamodelaclub.org/

11-23-2010, 11:16 AM	#3
Peter J Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 691	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car When it discharges, are you getting an arc? What is the humitidy down there now and is it breezy? I agree with Ron in that it's probably static. Pete

11-23-2010, 11:40 AM	#4
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,089	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car I agree too although it most commonly occurs in hot, dry weather.

11-23-2010, 11:46 AM	#5
IrishHills Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brooklyn, Michigan "Home of M.I.S." Posts: 398	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car Maybe it's your Nylon socks.

11-23-2010, 11:47 AM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Cover the driver's seat with a large bath towel and see if that stops the shock. I think you are creating static electricity when you slide off the seat.

11-23-2010, 11:48 AM	#7
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car I get it frequently in dry weather from my modern cars with lots of plastic and pile fabric upholstery... I vote for static... I 've gotten some pretty nasty shocks from my A in the cold dry winter...

11-23-2010, 12:23 PM	#8
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car Just for the heck of it you could try attaching a short length of a rubbery material to the vehicle[frame] thats just long enough to contact the ground and drag that around for awhile to see if that helps or if the problem really is static[thats gets my vote too]..

11-23-2010, 01:20 PM	#9
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car You're going to find that it IS static electricity.I have a big problem with it,and I don;t know why.From the time the leaves fall,until the ground gets muddy in the spring,I have a terrible time with it.I have gotten into the habit of slapping the metal doors in my house before I grab the knobs.That snap on the palm of my hand hurts a lot less than the snap on my fingers.Same thing with the stove,fridge,washer,dryer,anything big and metal in the house.Most cars are the same way,except for my 96 Dodge truck.For some reason that one never bites me.I was sitting in a 54 Studebaker this morning,when I got done twisting around and went to jump out I grabbed the windshield post and got belted.I'm the only one here it happens to.Think about all the cars in the 60's that ran around with two straps hanging down in the rear.When you bought a new car then the first thing you did was to run to Sears or Western Auto and get a set of seat covers to protect it.One slide across them and you built up quite a charge to release.Some people build it up,and some don't.I have a two foot flourescent light in the headboard of my bed.This time of the year I can slide my hand over it and it will glow.It won't throw any light,it just glows enough to show where it is.My wife rubs her hand on it and it stays dark,no glow at all.She also never gets shocked in the house either.

11-23-2010, 04:47 PM	#10
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car ever notice the strap hanging down from the gas tankers? its there to ground the truck so there will be no spark discharge, you can do the same thing by bolting on one of the old type woven battery straps used on the old cars as a ground straps, bolt to the frame and bolt on a piece of copper or metal to it just long enough to touch the ground when your stopped, if set up right it wont drag as you drive down the road , just when your stopped, that should stop the discharge

11-23-2010, 05:57 PM	#11
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car I agree, whack the back of your fist against a metal part of the body before exiting.. Static only hurts when you move slowly and give it time to arc. Cool and dry weather is the common culprit.

11-23-2010, 10:20 PM	#12
Ron/IA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Amana IA Posts: 527	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car Downeaster - Try to understand this; I get a shock everytime I exit my Silverado pickup, but have never been shocked by my Model A. How's come? I have no idea. What I do with my pickup is quickly touch (as suggested above) my forearm to the door's edge as I exit. And get this; I never get a shock getting into the pickup. PS. Also, my pickup shocks me no matter what time of year. __________________ Ron/IA 1929 Fordor Steelback Hawk A Model A Ford Club http://hawkamodelaclub.org/ Last edited by Ron/IA; 11-24-2010 at 09:32 AM. Reason: additional information

11-24-2010, 06:25 AM	#13
BillLee/Chandler, TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: The sticks of east Texas Posts: 474	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car Air that starts at 30 degrees is very dry when you warm it to 70 or there-abouts: static. __________________ Bill Lee http://www.CedarCreekAs.org

11-24-2010, 07:27 AM	#14
cannon Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: macclenny, florida Posts: 71	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car as you leave the car reach over and touch your wife's ear. you will leave the car so fast, you wont even fill the arc. )

11-24-2010, 08:40 AM	#15
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Getting electrical shock when exiting car I do that to my wife while she is snoring.I touch the tip of her nose.She grew up in a sawmill in Maine,and really knows how to swear.I had a dog that was leery of me in the winter too.After a couple snaps she wouldn't nose right up to my hand.