Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 316
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
I get the same thing from my hch. It's a combination of the type of clothes you are wearing at the time, seat materials, and the low humidity of winter. Any car will also build up a static charge when driving at highway speeds and if you happen to pass some money to a toll taker, you run the risk of discharging a good jolt. To remedy this, you can attach a static strap to the rear of your car that will touch the ground as you come to a stop and discharge any static electricity that has accumulated.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 70
From: CA
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
Funny that you mention this. I have gotten a small static shock getting out of my last two cars, a Passat and an Altima. This happened so frequently that I was starting to wonder about myself! In 6 months of ownership, I have to say that I can't recall its happening on my TCH! In fact, I had forgotten about it until I read your post. Maybe you got my static "mojo"!
Dazed and Confused
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 732
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
I have seen some straps you can bolt to the underside of the car. They drag on the ground and are supposed to "release" the static charge that is built up in/on the car. You might try that, they are sold at some auto parts houses.
Keeping Toyota Solvent
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,069
From: Princeton, New Jersey
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 529
From: Big Canoe GA
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
You forgot the pom-poms lol
MPG Centurion
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 202
From: Houston, Texas
Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!
Does the Camry have SmartKey?
My theory is that the static discharge is grounding through the smartkey sensor under the handle. I checked my other cars and they all have plastic door handles. My Prius (not Camry) may have a plastic handle, but there is a sensor on the inside of the handle you always touch when you reach for the door. This is how the SmarKey system knows to unlock the door.
Static is Very high voltage, and very low ampage. But that high voltage (even at low amps) does a remarkable job of scrambling electronics. I'm often concerned that the static will short out the SmarKey system, but that's probably why you get a shock. Maybe it's an attempt to ground you just before you hit the sensor. They may have put a grounding strip of lower resistance right next to the SmartKey system. If my physics is right, you'd ground through the lowest resistance (grounding strip) 10 times out of 10.
My theory is that the static discharge is grounding through the smartkey sensor under the handle. I checked my other cars and they all have plastic door handles. My Prius (not Camry) may have a plastic handle, but there is a sensor on the inside of the handle you always touch when you reach for the door. This is how the SmarKey system knows to unlock the door.
Static is Very high voltage, and very low ampage. But that high voltage (even at low amps) does a remarkable job of scrambling electronics. I'm often concerned that the static will short out the SmarKey system, but that's probably why you get a shock. Maybe it's an attempt to ground you just before you hit the sensor. They may have put a grounding strip of lower resistance right next to the SmartKey system. If my physics is right, you'd ground through the lowest resistance (grounding strip) 10 times out of 10.
