In an effort to rid the car of its tendency to shock people opening the door, and more importantly, being a dust magnet-I have taken the bold move of attaching a static strip to the frame. Cant say I'm crazy about the looks, but I wanted to test it quick and easy, so I used an existing bolt and just added a nut to it. If it works, then I will hook one up way under the middle of the car where nobody sees it.

 

This seems to be happening to a lot of us. Happens to both - cloth seats and leather. At a friend's house when this happened to him, I mentioned that it occurs more often than he thinks. He asked me about the bright chrome pkg. Would this make any difference?

 

Sorry, but I still an very lucky to not have a problem with the static. btw, there is another HHR owner here in town and he has cloth and he also has a problem with the static.

 

Which pkg do you/other owner have? Satin or Bright Chrome?

 

we both have the chrome

 

Roof rails or not?

 

I've got leather / chrome package / roof rails, have not had any problems about getting shocked. Might not be the car, since living in the Florida / N. Carolina I've never had that problem. When I visit family in the mid-west where it's really dry, I get shocked getting out of every car.

 

Some days, it's quite electrifying in Miami!

 

So, I guess my answer is - The chrome pkg has nothing to do w/ static charge.

 

It's the roof rails... They're antennas for static electricity!!

Seriously, static electricity is usually a problem when the relative humidity is low. The body will develop an electrostatic charge and the tires will be an insulator to the path to discharge. Along comes you, the easiest path to ground... Bingo... discharge!!

Try making sure that you touch a good metal "ground" before getting out. That should help get rid of the differential and lessen the likelyhood of getting zapped.

Disclaimer: This may not work while located in either the northern or southern hemispheres or during a new moon, full moon or any phase in between. Your mileage may vary.