My car is shocking is yours?

[RandyMettler]

Every time I start the car to test my changes I get a shock from the door when I get out of the car. I think it is a ground problem but cleaned all the connections. I never have owned a car that shocks me every time I get out of it. It does not shock me when I get into and out without starting the motor.

Regards

[Ggmac]

Could be the seats , sliding to get out = static electricity. Just a thought .

[RalphG]

My thought too. Static electricity it terrible here when it is cold and dry. Certain seat cover and clothing seems worse than others.

[RandyMettler]

I agree with both of you, but it does not happen when getting in and out of the car without starting it. Only when I energies the system, so to speak, do I get the shock.

[Tinker]

Had a 42 ford that the horn would shock me. Horn wire was worn in the steering column. Kind of common. https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220328

In order to get shocked you would have to make a connection to both -/+ with you being the "wire". Look at what you are touching when you grab the door.

You might have a short somewhere in the cab or your just an electrifying dude. haha


Electrical schematics are available to trace wiring online.



Always nice to know what year you are working in the description also. More info is better. Engine questions, add yr of engine, any updates made, (12v, etc...).etc, etc.








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[tubman]

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I had a '57 MG Magnette 4 door sedan that did this. It is real. I never found out what the problem was.

[RandyMettler]

Definitely not an electrifying dude. Got an ugly mug. Although I would appreciate if everyone would refer to me as "elector" or maybe even "magneto" in the future. Not because of my power to influence the presidential election, but because or my powers to transmit electricity from my car to mother earth. It kind of makes me feel like a super hero.

Regards, The artist formerly known as Randy Mettler, you know like Prince doing that weird self deemed name change. On second thoughts Randy is just fine.


Cheers

[Jack E/NJ]

Originally Posted by tubman

I had a '57 MG Magnette 4 door sedan that did this. It is real. I never found out what the problem was.

I bet you were shocked that a Lucas system occasionally seemed to work. Jack E/NJ

[Brian]

I have a daughter, and everytime she got outta my 35, she'd get a shock. I think I 'cured' the problem by running one of those 'earthing' rubber straps. Don't ask me how a rubber strap, rubber being an insulator, bolted onto the frame and trailing along on the ground can conduct away those errant electrons, but it seems to work.

[Tony, NY]

Originally Posted by Brian

I have a daughter, and everytime she got outta my 35, she'd get a shock. I think I 'cured' the problem by running one of those 'earthing' rubber straps. Don't ask me how a rubber strap, rubber being an insulator, bolted onto the frame and trailing along on the ground can conduct away those errant electrons, but it seems to work.

I remember seeing those (way back when) hanging and dragging on the ground. Must have worked.

[Jay in Mass]

Back in the old days that was common. I remember those rubber straps also and they seemed to work. Give it a try.

[cobbie]

I remember one of the first cars I had came with nylon seat covers, and it shocked you every time you exited the car, changed the interior and the problem went away.

[Gary in La.]

I remember in the '40's and 50's in Wis. all the gas trucks that delivered fuel to the farms had a large long rubber strap dragging the ground. Static electricity is not good around fuel.

[RKS.PA]

Gary, around our farm in southern N.J., the fuel trucks had a chain that dragged along the roadway. Sparks would fly. I had to install one on my tricycle at the time, just to be safe!!!

[flatford8]

I’ve seen plenty of rubber straps dragging under vehicles of all kinds.... but a sparking chain dragging from a fuel truck ?!?!?!...... somehow that just don’t seem right?!??!!...Mark

[JSeery]

I can remember the chains and the rubber straps.

[aussie merc]

sounds like you need a static strap used to be a common site in auto stores but hardly see them these days basicly its a rubber strap with a high carbon content thats bolted to the underbody and allowed to drag on the ground this earths out and discharges static electricity

[Jack E/NJ]

I'm still a bit apprehensive about fueling gasoline from a jug especially during dry weather. I always touch the destination tank before opening and inserting the jug spout. Jack E/NJ

[tubman]

After reviewing all the posts in this thread, I remember that I was only shocked in the MG during the summer when I blew the horn and had my arm out the window. (nobody does it anymore, but it was de rigueur back then). After thinking it over I have to believe that there was some feedback from the high tension side of the ignition system through the horn wiring.

And "Jack", of all the problems I had with that car, strangely enough, other than this none of them were electrical.

[Jack E/NJ]

tubman>>>And "Jack", of all the problems I had with that car, strangely enough, other than this none of them were electrical. >>>

I'm shocked! 8^) Jack E/NJ

[Terry,OH]

black rubber is a conductor of electricity due to the amount of carbon content not an insulator. I believe this problem has been covered before in a thread. I seem to remember horn capacitors as being one problem area.

[tubman]

Oh man I'm gonna quit now.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by tubman

Oh man I'm gonna quit now.

You know you won't

[189j40]

Must have been one bad a__ tricycle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[richard crow]

back in the day people thought a hanging chain under the car made the car raydar proof

[Gary in La.]

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In the '50's every car that went into the paint booth at the small town body shop got a length of chain hung over the rear axel touching the floor.

[RalphM]

Tubman said:”After reviewing all the posts in this thread, I remember that I was only shocked in the MG during the summer when I blew the horn and had my arm out the window. (nobody does it anymore, but it was de rigueur back then). “

I was recently down in Houston driving and everybody was hanging their hand out the window but I don’t think they were waving at me

[dakotafarmboy]

In the 70's, my Dad welded a short length of chain from the frame of his combine to the ground under the theory it would shed static electricity and thereby keep dust from sticking to the windows of the cab.

[B-O-B]

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

black rubber is a conductor of electricity due to the amount of carbon content not an insulator. I believe this problem has been covered before in a thread. I seem to remember horn capacitors as being one problem area.

I discarding all my sparkplug wires that are black rubber.

[RandyMettler]

It was simple static electricity. I know, "who let the cool kid in the room"? When I was a kid that was the saying we used for someone we knew who brought an idiot the idiot to the party.

Throughout my entire build process I have had cheap Walmart sleeping bags covering my front and rear seats. The seats have been recently reupholstered so don't want to ruin them. I removed the front bag today while adjusting my 94s just for testing. The shocking stopped when touching the door to get out after running the engine. I just don't get why it only shocked me after sitting in the car when running. Anyway, once I finish the build, the bags are going in the closet. I don't have to hang a rubber strap from the frame to the ground!

I'll only use the bags when someone is going to ride with me that I don't care much for! HaHa