Happens to all of us in this cooler, dryer weather with cloth seats. Touch metal on the frame of the car to ground yourself before sliding in or out. I just reach up and put a hand on the roof.
Did you know that's why some cars have that weird dog leesh type thing dragging along their rear bumper? I always thought it was a tribute to National Lampoon's Vacation. Anyway, short of that solution, I've tried everything people said and nothing works. I minimize the zap by closing the door with my elbow on the glass window. Works like a charm but I look like an idiot.
Hmmm... never happened to me yet, and I've had the PiP since April. Perhaps because my Advanced PiP has Softex seats?
As far as I know, you want that zap, or you will discharge yourself when touching the gas pump, phone etc, which might cause damage (but in most case won't). I actually touch the car on purpose right before I fill up.
I get shocked getting out of any car. I've taken to touching my shoulder to a door as I get out since the pain sensitivity from the shock is minimal on my shoulder compared to my hand.
I thought it had to do with the material composition of the tires. Less carbon......more carbon, something like that. My last car was a 2010 Buick and it was zapping me but good every time I got out of it. My Prius does not create quite the zap that the other car did, but it is still present.
I just make a habit of touching the door with my elbow while getting out (greatly reduces the pain/reaction of the shock). I hear the little zap every time. My wife on the other hand can get in and out of it all day long without a single shock. But I have to wonder if its the shirt I am wearing when it occurs. As a part time job I deliver for papa john's pizza and we wear these shirts that are extremely cool in the summer and down right cold during the cooler/colder months. When I get home I always take it off and you hear a boat load of zip zaps as I am taking it off... I will have to pay more attention when I am not working, I don't recall getting zapped while in jeans and a t-shirt.
Even better than an elbow or knuckle to discharge static is to use a metal object. If you use a key, for example, you can press it between your thumb and index finger and then lightly touch a metal part of the car. If you press hard, your fingers flatten out and the electron discharge is spread over a larger surface area than the pin point area that would receive the usual shock. Usually I can barely feel it.
I only wear cotton and depending on the humidity I still get shocked. I'm thinking that people who live where the humidity never gets below 20 - 30% are wondering what mental illness those who live where it can get below 5% are suffering from. When the humidity gets below 10% I've even received a shock from the stream of water at the bathroom faucet.
For years I have been in the habit of touching my forearm on the edge of the door frame before I touch it to close it. It is a very insensitive area of the body to take a shock and it is usually through a layer or two of coat/clothing which further dissipates it. I even find myself doing it during the humid summer simply because it's a habit.
You know what's the worst? You and the wife both get out of the car after carpooling together. You lean in to give a goodbye kiss, and ZAP! Everytime. I try to tell her to touch the car, but somehow she doesn't remember. I was actually wondering if all-weather, rubber mats might reduce the build-up. It seemed that when we put rubber mats in our last vehicle, the propensity of a discharge was reduced.
