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Old 02-02-2007, 03:28 PM
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Dan Dan is offline
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Real Name: Dan
Location: Houston, Texas
Hybrids: '07 Prius II
Posts: 194
Default Re: Electric Shocks...YOUCH!

Does the Camry have SmartKey?

My theory is that the static discharge is grounding through the smartkey sensor under the handle. I checked my other cars and they all have plastic door handles. My Prius (not Camry) may have a plastic handle, but there is a sensor on the inside of the handle you always touch when you reach for the door. This is how the SmarKey system knows to unlock the door.

Static is Very high voltage, and very low ampage. But that high voltage (even at low amps) does a remarkable job of scrambling electronics. I'm often concerned that the static will short out the SmarKey system, but that's probably why you get a shock. Maybe it's an attempt to ground you just before you hit the sensor. They may have put a grounding strip of lower resistance right next to the SmartKey system. If my physics is right, you'd ground through the lowest resistance (grounding strip) 10 times out of 10.

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Dan is an official (Honda) Hydrogen Economy Convert!
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Best commute = 14.3mi @ 114 MPG (sg2)
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