Re: #468 is On a Rampage!!

[Eddi Jew <jew@rysa.dtc.hp.com>]

Hmmmm. This "trunk wiring failure" and "getting shocked (by static 
electricity)" correlation seems to be taking hold (not just coincidence). 
Let's see if we can explain it.

You would get shocked if there was a _difference_ in charge, ex., the 
earth is at "0" charge, the car is at, say, "-10,000" and the passengers
are at -9,500 (because the tires are blocking the electrons from "draining" 
to earth), right? 

I see most trucks drag chains and some cars drag a strip of black
conductive strip to assist in keeping the car at a lower charge, so that
when you get out of your car, you're not the drain-path (and get shocked).

Is it true that the charge across the whole (car) body is roughly the same 
if the body panels are electrically conductive (via the welds)?  Then
why would failures in the wiring harnesses going to the trunk make a 
difference (being redundant)? Does the Audi body have an integral earth 
pick-up at the trunk and the wiring harness assists in equalizing charge
differences in the cabin?

Then again, if it works all the time, why figger it out?

-- Eddi

 > >enough.  You saved me a ton of time!  I was getting shocked when I 
 > >got out of my car every time and couldn't figure it out.  I was 
 > >dreading the search for the short.  ALso, my reverse lights now work 
 > >
 > >Love,
 > >Cindi
 > 
 >  Now that you mention it, I used to get shocked getting out of the 
 > car too.  I fixed the wires in my trunk last spring, and now I can't
 > remember the last time it was that I got shocked.  Interesting.  By the
 > way, if/when your electric mirrors stop working, the wires entering the 
 > door for these tend to crack and break too (been there/done that).  Fuse
 > box would be the first place to go though.
 > 
 > Dan Cooke
 > cooke@bng.ge.com
 > '86 4kcsq