A shocking ride

jamashke · May 11, 2005

At first I thought it was just my electrical personality...just kidding. Basically everytime you get out of the truck you get zapped. I mean I have burnt holes in my pants leg and even sinzed the outside of my shoe on my emergency break pedal (the holes were very small and it seems to be a strong static build up). I thought it might be because of winter but it is still occuring. One other thing at night I hit the map lights and I get a flash on the dash from the Bed Light indicator but then goes off less than a second. Once this happens it will not happen again and the shock when leaving the truck is not very noticeable. Also the truck has to be driven (not idle) for about 15-20 minutes before any of this occurs.

I checked all grounding that I thought of but can not find anything.

I did have the truck "rust proofed" on the frame, the underside, in the panels, etc. Could this be causing the truck to not discharge? or do I have a serious electrical issue?

Reminds me of the cars back in the 80's dragging rubber strips behind them to "reduce" the static HAHA.

Thank you in advance.

P.S. I normally post in the 2500HD area but I did not find anything like this at all over there. Please move to the correct forum if need be. I saw the posting about careful asking issues and I hope this is ok......

mmmikkke · May 12, 2005

...You are generating the static when you slide across the seat, scrubbing electrons onto yourself, and transferring them to the frame through your fingertips, etc.

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But that doesn't square with only the first person getting zapped. Everybody's picking up electrons, they all should get zapped.

They're not touching each other, are they?

I think that the truck is picking up a static charge, not the individual(s) in the interior.

And by the way, Scotchgard is a nasty chemical. This is the 2nd search result when searching Google for "scotchgard": The Inside Story: 3M and Scotchgard

mmmikkke · May 11, 2005

...I have burnt holes in my pants leg and even sinzed the outside of my shoe on my emergency break pedal (the holes were very small and it seems to be a strong static build up)....
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Has this happened since the truck was new? Or just since this winter? Have you checked your driveshaft for anything that it might be slinging...Sounds almost like you've got a Van De Graff Generator somewhere building up a couple thousand volts of static electricity.

Maybe a huge rubberband on the drive shaft, wiping over and over against the bottom of the cab?

I'll admit this is a weird one. Might have to bring in Dr. Greg House. Can you deal with biting sarcasm?

jamashke · May 11, 2005

almost like you've got a Van De Graff Generator somewhere building up a couple thousand volts of static electricity.
Maybe a huge rubberband on the drive shaft, wiping over and over against the bottom of the cab?

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I was thinking about that. I checked all areas that would rub like that and see nothing.... But this morning did me in (64 degrees with dew everywhere) I got to work and ZAP I got hit hard. It fried my iPaq that was in my hand between the exterior of the door and my finger. (it still hurts 14 hours later and have a slight burn mark about the size of a pencil lead)

I am almost afraid to take it in as I can only imagine the things they would have to tear apart to figure this out.

mmmikkke · May 11, 2005

almost like you've got a Van De Graff Generator somewhere building up a couple thousand volts of static electricity.
Maybe a huge rubberband on the drive shaft, wiping over and over against the bottom of the cab?

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I was thinking about that. I checked all areas that would rub like that and see nothing.... But this morning did me in (64 degrees with dew everywhere) I got to work and ZAP I got hit hard. It fried my iPaq that was in my hand between the exterior of the door and my finger. (it still hurts 14 hours later and have a slight burn mark about the size of a pencil lead)

I am almost afraid to take it in as I can only imagine the things they would have to tear apart to figure this out.

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Well, for now you could try a can of Static Guard. Spray the interior (seats, carpeting) and see if it helps. I used to use that in my '95 K3500 when it was new. Each spraydown lasted about 1 day.

Also, is it just the driver, or does the passenger, exiting through the passenger door, also get zapped? They aren't touching the steering wheel / shifter handle / pedals. This could help you zero in on the problem.

Friz · May 11, 2005

I've had this happen with a few of my vehicles. My '95 and my wife's 03 do it.

Make sure that your hand is touching metal as you exit the vehicle. I always grab the edge of the door before my foot hits the ground. No zap.

jamashke · May 11, 2005

Also, is it just the driver, or does the passenger, exiting through the passenger door, also get zapped? They aren't touching the steering wheel / shifter handle / pedals. This could help you zero in on the problem.

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Whomever is the lucky person to touch any metal part on the truck first get's it. When my wife and/or son is riding I make sure to get hit first but I love watching my friends look at me (like what are you waiting for) and have them get out first.

mmmikkke · May 11, 2005

Also, is it just the driver, or does the passenger, exiting through the passenger door, also get zapped? They aren't touching the steering wheel / shifter handle / pedals. This could help you zero in on the problem.

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Whomever is the lucky person to touch any metal part on the truck first get's it. When my wife and/or son is riding I make sure to get hit first but I love watching my friends look at me (like what are you waiting for) and have them get out first.

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I'd hate to ruin that,

but this problem is weird enough to try to solve. Are these zaps way worse than the kind you get walking on new carpeting through an office and touch the elevator button? They're not just run of the mill static zaps, are they?

GM-Tech · May 11, 2005

Pretty common complaint with cloth interior. I got it in my various S10 pickups, my Blazer and now my Colorado. Guess I shoulda got leather.

Scotchguard works pretty well to eliminate it for a while. Certainly longer than 1 day.

There's nothing wrong with the vehicle or much you can do except maybe change what you wear, though I doubt even that would help. It's just physics.

SS Crew · May 13, 2005

You're not wearing polyester pants and shirts with many gold chains and have big frizzy hair, do you? Because rubbing you hair on the headliner will generate those electrons.

jamashke · May 13, 2005

H3LL no!!

I guess I am one of those country moved into an urbanite neighborhood type person going crazy because I can't shoot that d*mn squirrel in "populated" areas. I hate baggy pants that looks like you got a fresh pile of dung in them, frizzy hair HAHAHA Oh I just found out what the heck "bling bling" is How about we just call it people wanting to look like a ?

I got kacki's (sp?) and a tie during the week and jeans, boots and a teashirt on the weekend. Well that depends if me and the dog and/or family are going fishing, camping or hunting.

mcreyaufmiller · May 13, 2005

sounds more serious than static. he stated that the shocks burnt holes in his clothes. that is a lot of power.

71GMC_3/4T · May 11, 2005

One other thing at night I hit the map lights and I get a flash on the dash from the Bed Light indicator but then goes off less than a second. Once this happens it will not happen again and the shock when leaving the truck is not very noticeable. Also the truck has to be driven (not idle) for about 15-20 minutes before any of this occurs.

Reminds me of the cars back in the 80's dragging rubber strips behind them to "reduce" the static HAHA.

Thank you in advance.

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The cargo lamp indicator flash with the map lights is normal. My theory is that it has something to do with the battery protection circuit. It will probably flash the first time you open the glove box, provided you hadn't pushed a map light yet.

Change what you're wearing for one day. Try wearing cotton and make sure you don't have any polyester or similar material on.

I don't think dragging a drag chain would do you any good. You are generating the static when you slide across the seat, scrubbing electrons onto yourself, and transferring them to the frame through your fingertips, etc.

GM-Tech · May 13, 2005

he stated that the shocks burnt holes in his clothes.

I must have missed that in the original post. I don't mind telling you, I'm having a real hard time buying that one. I don't see where that kind of power could be generated.

jamashke · May 12, 2005

Moving around on the seats will generate the shock I agree but let me add a little more to the picture. Imagine yourself driving down the road sitting comfortable on cruise control listening to the radio and ZAP you got to close to the emergency break pedal arm. I was reading somewhere that the type of exhaust you have can cause it?? Anyway I am off to by a new iPaq or a blackberry have not decided. (Also I wear non-conductive boots due to some of the work I did recently...Dealt with phase "inverters" to keep the torque up on electric drives depending on RPM's) If only these Gas engines were as easy to manipulate...You change the phase of the DC current and poof more torque lower RPM