Dear Tom and Ray:

My 1992 Geo Metro (45,000 miles) gives me a nasty shock whenever I get out and close the door. Oooww! Is something wrong with it? It has done this occasionally for years, but lately it seems worse. Could it have something to do with the night I was driving in a really bad storm and think we got hit by a lightning ball? -- Gina

Ray: Hmm. You think there's residual electricity that's still floating around in your Metro from the lightning? And it discharges itself a little bit at a time on your finger?

Tom: I don't think so, Gina. You're experiencing the joys of static electricity. And the main problem is the tires. Most modern tires are now "low rolling resistance" tires. And they do a worse job of discharging static electricity than older tires that decreased your mileage.

Ray: You say it's gotten worse recently. Have you also replaced the tires recently? That wouldn't surprise me with 45,000 miles on the car.

Tom: Unfortunately, when circumstances combine to create static electricity -- dry weather, poor discharge and polyester leisure suits -- your options are limited. You can't change the weather. You don't want to reduce your gas mileage by buying old, "higher rolling resistance" tires. And you don't want to give up a perfectly good wardrobe of white-piped, powder blue active wear. So what do you do?

Ray: There are two options, Gina. One is to touch the car with the tip of the key before you close the door. That would discharge the static through the key, leaving your finger unzapped. The problem is that you have to remember to do it, and be careful not to touch anything accidentally on the way out of the car.

Tom: The other option is to buy a couple of static-discharge strips from your local auto-parts store. They are rubber strips with wires embedded in them that hang off the bottom of the car and discharge your static electricity into the ground. Their only problem is that they're cheap junk and they wear out, so they need to be replaced every six months or so.

Ray: But that's the way I'd go. If it's a choice between getting zapped and getting gypped, I'd get gypped in this case.

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Spending a little money now on "preventive maintenance" can save you big bucks down the road. Find out how by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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