Flooded Lanes

[Hicardo]

Hi Folks, h

How deep would the flood water in the road have to be before you turned around and went another way driving the MK 4 Jazz?  I'm inclined not to be brave driving through flood water, id rather take the long route home rather than risk writing off the engine. 

My usual threshold is if its more than tyre depth, it makes me nervous, and I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

Interested to hear your views.

Cheers! 

[Lincolnshire Rambler]

I wouldn’t drive through water that was deeper than the bottom of the car . I did in my first Nissan note and it floated until the wheels caught the ground . The door seals kept the water out . So wouldn’t do it again in my Jazz !

[Whiteshark]

I just would not take the risk, full stop, because you really sometimes do not know the true depth.

[ahavoja]

I believe the engine gets its air from the front of the car, just behind the front grille. I would cross water as slowly as possible, so the water doesn't climb onto the cars hood higher than that air intake. If enough water gets into that intake, the engine stops and gets damaged.

If the water is so deep that it touches the Honda emblem at the front of the car, I would not attempt crossing it with Jazz. This is about 60 cm high from the ground, same as the tire diameter of Jazz. But if there is no emergency, I feel like I wouldn't want to cross water deeper than the ground clearance, about 20 cm, just to keep Jazz safe and floor carpets dry.

By the way, found a video where Jazz Mk4 crosses flooded road (at 1:23 time):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4HS2A66Aa4&t=83s
(I wouldn't drive that fast though.)

[Kremmen]

Never mind just the engine, think about getting water in the HV battery pack

That's what has crippled a few Tesla's recently

[madasafish]

In my 2012 Jazz the water just touched the lower drive belt through a puddle. The lower front grille was blocked with leaves afterwards..
Water was approx 40cms deep.
I sped across the puddle at approx 3mph
Perfectly safe.

[Nicksey]

Anything higher than the front spoiler for me. There are quite a few videos of the Rufford lane ford in Notts which are amusing. I definitely would get the Garmin to find an alternative route 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60575504

[ColinS]

If it comes up more than halfway on the ducks, then I wouldn't risk it .

[Pine]

One of the problems with driving through flood water is that you can't see what is below the surface.  You could be driving over sharp debris or into a deep pot hole.

[Lord Voltermore]

No deeper than the front air intake and ground clearance - about 20cm.    But even then you must be sure the water will  not get deeper    Either due to unknown depth  , or possibly even more likely, some other  idiot driving through at the same time creating waves.     I went through one yesterday that was probably about 10cm, but the council had placed temporary traffic lights only allowing one way traffic.     

[ahavoja]

Would there be any benefit in reversing through the water? (Other than you could use the reverse camera to see where the Jazz is going.)

[Jazzik]

In case I would prefer this way (with such a "driver")! 

[PaulC]

IMO, the depth of water that a Jazz Mk4 hybrid can safely go through is primarily set by the HV battery pack container under the rear passenger seat.
The battery is air-cooled with an air intake vent for the container next to the rear passenger seat and an air exit vent underneath the car. 
The container air exit vent is not sealed so if a Jazz Mk4 goes through a puddle higher than the air exit vent then water will enter the batttery container and probably cause the HV battery to short out.
This air exit vent is also susceptible to the peaks of wave /surges caused by other cars driving through puddles or flood waters.
The sensible precaution is to avoid all puddles when driving the Jazz Mk4

PS. The floods earlier this year in New Zealand resulted in photos of PHEV Mitsubishi SUVs dead because their owners assumed they could drive through flooded roads like they used to do with their ICE SUVs.

[Lincolnshire Rambler]

I would assume the external air vent for the HV battery would be designed to prevent water egress from “normal” driving through puddles and heavy surface water on a motorway . Not sure I have seen any references to driving into water in the owners manual -? I still haven’t read it all yet ….

[Kremmen]

My Xantias were good in not too deep water, push the lever and the car rose about 8"

Was useful for cleaning under the wheel arches as well