Shocking Interior

volksfire · 03-25-2006, 11:17 AM

I don't know what types of interior materials you guys have, but mine is like a jersey mesh material. It looks cool, and ventalates well, but I recently discovered that it builds alot of static electricity. Everytime I get out of my car, I get a heck of a shock closing the door. My big concern is that this can lead to a fire at the gas pump. I am a professional firefighter, or at least I get paid to be one, so I have long had a habbit of discharging any static buildup before I pump gas. The biggest risk seems to come when people start the pump, then get back in the car to write a check. When they get out, they are charged. When they grab for the pump handle, they can discharge the static electricity in an area of gas vapors that are within thier explosive limits.
So be careful, fellow Rio-nauts, and be sure to slap some metal before you get near the pump.
Has anyone else noticed a static problem? Other interior materials not as bad?

mwrobe1 · 03-30-2006, 07:19 AM

I've noticed this as well...but alot of other cars on the road exhibit this too. I had a Chevy Impala as a rental on a business trip one time...the static from that car was really bad. Thanks for warning us though...I would've never thought of it as a potential fire hazard.

Capirex · 05-14-2006, 02:33 PM

I have noticed this problem as well. I used to have Alfa Romeo where the problem was even worse... Actually, the problem used to be so bad that every time I had to get out of the Italian beast I cursed because of the obvious eletric shock I was about to experience. Anyways thanks for the tip.

pepper · 05-14-2006, 04:05 PM

I've found it depends on which shoes I'm wearing, It doesn't matter a jot about the seat material the static build up is all over the car. If I'm wearing my work safety shoes which have anti static soles I never have this problem, but if I'm wearing trainers then it happens on all the vehicles I own.
The way I get around this is to hold onto the vehicle as I get out and not let go, turn around still holding the door, place other hand on it then push the door closed (sounds silly but it stops the shocks).

volksfire · 05-15-2006, 07:50 AM

I'll have to try to remember that trick next winter when the humidity is down again.