Everytime I get out of my truck, step on the ground and shut the door, I get shocked. How can I find the source of this?
I installed a stereo last weekend and thought that my ground wire must have been wrong so I just grounded the stereo to the goldish chassis holder nearby.
Could that be the cause?
Or is there something else maybe worth checking. i just got the truck so I don't know all of its quirks yet.
92 pickup 22re

Thanks

 

Have you only been getting shocked since you put the stereo in? If that's the case, there could be something that's grounding or shorting out.... I'm sure someone a little more knowledgeable in the audio arena will chime in shortly...

 

static electricity from sliding off the seat. happens to me quite a bit also when its dry out.

nut much you can do about it (try to ground the seat better??)

 

Dry regions can do this, especially in winter.

Do yourself a favor, go to the store, buy youself some dryer sheets and use them when you dry your clothes and when your at the store, pick up some static guard and spray it on your seats:

 

That's funny. My girlfriend's mom just visited and I have all clean clothes... dried with dryer sheets!.
Can't tell if it's since the stereo install or just in general. I just got the truck and just put the stereo in. At first I thought it might just be static, but today it got me good. Can still feel it on my finger 2 hours later. I guess I don't know what a full shock would feel like if I touched both red and black wires...

 

Ok, here's what you do... Go inside, take the plate off of one of your outlets, and stick your fingers behind the outlet. With any luck, after you do this, you should have something to compare to! (Just kidding, don't do that...)

 

Off of a 12v battery? You wouldn't feel it just grabbing it with dry hands.

When you get shocked, is it a single ZAP! that hits and stops, or is it a long zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz that sticks around until YOU let go?

If it's a single zap, then it's static, like other folks have said. If it's a long zzzzzzz then something else is going on, and it's a LOT more than 12v.


You can take care of a static zap with a ground strap. It attaches to the frame and then drags on the ground. These are more than mildly tacky, but the concept is correct:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4626333964

Obviously, if you play in the dirt a lot, they're are gonna get torn off. There are various options for things like this, but in general you need something to remove the electrical potential from the rig. You get zapped 'cause you become the path to ground as you get out.

 

As you slide out, you build a static charge. When you grab the door, you will get shocked.

Try this when exiting the vehicle- hold the door or door jamb (something metal) as you slide out; before you put your feet on the ground. That way, you will not suddenly shock yourself as you will already be in contact with the metal.

My mom had a car that would shock you bad because of the seat material. I started doing this, and eliminated the problem.

 

My mom always told me to pick up my feet when I walk. Maybe you are building up a charge before you hop in your truck?

 

Agreed 100% save one thing....one can get nailed by 12v, though its highly difficult. I was working on my additional grounding under hood one day and it was HOT. So I took my shirt off and leaned up against the fender of the truck. (Mind you im really sweaty at this point, so I've got an AWSOME ground to the truck.) Every time I'd touch anything with 12v power I'd get a fairly good ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ shock that I'd feel inside of my arm and chest!!

I later did some experiementation with 10 8v batteries to see where my voltage threshold was. I placed the index finger of one hand on one pole and the index finger on the other hand on the other pole. If I had electrolyte on my fingertips, 16v would give a little wake up call. 24v was a bit unsettling and 32v was downright nasty. (all with electrolyte on fingers contacting poles) Without the eletrolyte and just skin on lead 36v was needed and one could baaaarely feel it.

 

I seem to be getting shocked much harder now that it's cold and the road is covered with salt... so I think, much like how you build up a charge when walking on carpet. My tires are building up a large charge that has no exit, until I put my foot on the ground and give it a place to go. I find it's a little less jolting to get it in the back of the leg through jeans and right in the index finger as I try to close the door. Any way beside the curb feeler-esk ground strap contraption, shown earlier in the this post, to reduce the charge?

I know hanging a metal chain off your rear axel would probably work, but i'm hope for a little less clattery, inconspicuous method...

Any ideas?

 

Every 4Runner I've ever owned (now on my 6th one), I've experienced static shock while exiting the vehicle.

I don't seem to get shocked as often getting out of my current 4Runner as often as I did w/ a previous 4Runner I used to own. (Could be the rubber mats I have in my 4Runner now.) Man, every time I got out of that truck I'd get a nasty shock on the finger!

I've learned to deal w/ the small static shocks here and there. IMO, it just comes w/ the territory of owning a 4Runner.

 

I get zapped pretty good when I get out of my dad's explorer. Usually when I touch the door or the seat release. I found that if you run your hand along the length of the vinyl on the door -before- you touch the metal part it won't get you AS bad. I don't think I have ever had my yota zap me though, I have rubber floor mats in it though.

 

This static build up is also why you should NEVER get back in your vehicle when filling the gas tank. That is, unless you discharge yourself first, but you never know!

 

I used to own a 92 22re and got shocked all the time as well. Used to think it was something to do with the electrical system, but now, thinking back, I'm pretty sure it was always winter when this happened. Which probably had to do with the super dry conditions (low humidity). By comparison, my 4Runner has leather, and I never seem to get shocked.