About to be killed in a fiery inferno?

[shandyboy]

Okay, so the last couple of times I've filled up (Shell garage near where I work), there has been an audible "crack" of static when the nozzle touches the metal nozzle of my car.

Now I'm no rocket scientist, but I'm guessing that sparks very near my open fuel nozzle (ooer) aren't the best of ideas...

Does anyone else's do this? Have you heard of this happening? How can I stop it?!

Only seems to have started doing it recently, not changed to rubber soled shoes or anything!

[RegMolehusband]

Could this be your problem?

[shandyboy]

Doesn't everyone wear that at a Shell garage?!

[Zod]

reg, please keep you pr0n collection to yourself.

[Baffled Spoon]

Has it only recentley started to do that? Could be due to a bad earth connection.

[shandyboy]

ahhh.... that's very sensible (so I hadn't thought of it) - car is well known for having 'not brilliant' earth cables.

I will look into this, ta.

[Shaw Tarse]

In the meantime you need to earth yourself,
At all times when filling up keep one hand on your head!

[shandyboy]

Nah, one hand down your pants keeps it earthed (touching your... lightning conductor rod)

[littleredrooster]

Baffled Spoon said:

Has it only recentley started to do that? Could be due to a bad earth connection.

I do hope you're not being serious......HTF can the car's earthing system create static electricity?

[shandyboy]

Boy do I feel stupid for just ordering replacement earth leads... £23 wasted?

[Baffled Spoon]

littleredrooster said:

I do hope you're not being serious......HTF can the car's earthing system create static electricity?

I was thinking more along the lines of grounding actually. Surely a dodgy earth could cause charge build up in that area otherwise?

[Engineer1]

IIRC Minis had a problem with this and it was due to no route to earth, are the body panels round the filler metal? if they aren't it could be that a wire has come off or needs tightening, a new earthing kit may well solve it assuming you are talking about the smart as aren't they plastic panels?

[shandyboy]

Yeah it's the smart so plastic panels.

I have been told it could be a snapped earth wire along the garage's fuel pipe to the nozzle.

I'll replace the car's earth straps anyway just in case.

[bencollins]

remember that craze in the 80's for earthing cables dragging from rear bumpers!!

[NHK244V]

NO car has decent "earth" cables, those 4 rubber things, oh what are they called? oh yes tyres that's it, well they do a fine job of insulating the car from the earth
Try grounding yourself before picking up the fuel nozzle, it's most likely your trousers creating static as you slide off the seat, i wont go into undergarments here

[Engineer1]

But if your car is plastic and hence an insulator and your filler neck is metal and hence a conductor any static will discharge from the filler neck to the nozzle or vice versa.