[AGCube]

It seems like I’m always getting shocked when I’m exiting my Cube. Anyone else notice this? I’ve had this happen occasionally with other vehicles but this seems to be excessive.

 

[none]

I always have this problem on cars with cloth interiors.

 

[Slomack]

Just noticed this yesterday with the Cube. Interested in any remedies ;-)

 

[fotomoto]

Don't know where ya'll live but here in the south it's only a problem when cool, dry fronts began arriving. Had my first "ouch" just a day or two ago after two months of ownership.

Hazardous cargo vehicles use grounding wires to discharge static.

 

[none]

When I open my door I try to keep my hand on the door handle. You can still feel the flow of electrons, but it's not as much of a shock.

 

[lne937s]

There are a couple of remedies... You can try to take a very thin uninsulated wire with a long needle and place a few stitches into some of the seams, pass it through the seat, then attach it to any bare metal on the seat frame or some other grounding point (use a multimeter to make sure it is grounding out). Antistatic suits use a similar system. A few small stitches spread throughout the seams of the seat of very thin wire will work well to prevent static buildup and will be pretty much unnoticeable. I would take a few strands off a finely-stranded tinned copper hookup wire to do the job.

They do make antistatic sprays (makes fabric mildly conductive), but I doubt that would work as well alone in this application due to how well insulated the cabin is. It would help, however, especially in conjunction with the grounding.

With all the foam (is it Dow Impaxx?) in the floorboards, I would think that the cube is a little more prone to static buildup than some other cars.

A note of caution: always be sure to touch something metal on your car to ground yourself out when getting out before filling it with gas and never get in and out of your car when filling- especially during the winter. Static sparks can ignite gasoline vapors.

 

[AGCube]

Sure enough it’s the seats.

This morning in my garage, I sat in the driver’s seat for like 5 seconds, then slid out, and whamo, got nailed with a bolt of lightning on my finger tip.

I think I’ll look into the suggestion of weaving a thin wire in a seam of the seat and grounding it.

 

[Rubik]

I've been told the problem is worse up north (North US and our friendly neighbors to the North...Canada) because the air is mostly always cool and dry. I believe Subaru actually had an option for cars sold up north to reduce this, lol.

 

[damian666robin]

funny this hapens only to my wife on the passenger side seat but it will never happpen to me, it is strong because i can always hear the shock, i always tell her as long as your feet touches floor first she should be fine but she keeps getting it, on my half still i never get it

 

[Ladybug~]

Happens to me all the time when I'm wearing crocs shoes!

 

[Rubik]

^ That's not a shock... that's your car resisting Crocs....

Are you wearing the wool inserts, by any chance?

 

[Pube]

This happens a lot for me when it's hot outside or... worst COLD. Whenever I exit vehicles I try to hold on something that can ground me. Actually before I even MOVE... I've gotten shock so many times and I'm paranoid about it. Whenever I open a store's door (metal handles) I get paranoid just touching it. You can buy these little keychains that grounds you to prevent you from getting shock.

 

[Cubert]

You know, this didn't happen to me until I read this post...... Either that or I just didn't notice it until you pointed it out.

 

[AyaRei]

You know, this didn't happen to me until I read this post...... Either that or I just didn't notice it until you pointed it out.

It probably just didn't happen until you consciously thought about it. That's the way it always works.

 

[Square1]

Yeah I agree, the fabric used on these seats are very condusive to static build up, especially during dry periods (low humidity).

The solution lne937s wrote about is a good one and it works. To make it more invisible you can thread the wire onto the fabric under the seat, then run it down to the seat rail which is bolted to the chassis. This will keep the ground wire hidden from view while doing it's job. In aviation we call this a "Static Wire". - Dan

BTW, I gave lne937s one HP boost for his / her post. Great info.

 

[TheirMightBeBlood!]

great. i regret reading this thread, ive had my cube for 2 months now and never been shocked.
i really hope after reading this i wont become a victim of the CubeShock.

 

[CubicKrom]

Nice!!!! :yes: I keep getting zapped every time I get out and touch the door. The Krom seats are electrifying. (Either that or I'm going to have to retire my 70's polyester suit) 8)

This post in Beans thread on Clazzio seat covers. I think these will stop the shock? :-\ 8)

 

[damian666robin]

Happens to me all the time when I'm wearing crocs shoes!

my wife is always wearing sandals! shes a sandal lover! maybe that haves something to do with it

 

[Ladybug~]

^ That's not a shock... that's your car resisting Crocs....

Are you wearing the wool inserts, by any chance?

You are probably right. The Cube doesn't like the Crocs. But when I wear steel toe shoes for 11 hours a day, 5-6 days a week... the crocs are so comfortable and light that I don't care if they are ugly. And no, I'm not wearing the ones with the wool inserts (yet! Winter is approaching though!). I have a pair of the crocs sandals that I usually wear unless it's raining.

 

[AGCube]

Since we are coming into the fall season I fear more and more cube owners are in for that rude surprise when they exit.

Sorry if others are now more paranoid, I really didn’t mean to jinx anyone