General Fiat 500 Off Roading!

[ahmett]

Hello to all you "off-road" Fiat 500 enthusiasts. I was wondering; how deep can the water that you drive on be before there might be problems? I think i went into 20 cm deep water with the Fiat and it seems ok! Would the radiator run into any problems if muddy water got into it?

 

[maddogmorg]

Hello to all you "off-road" Fiat 500 enthusiasts. I was wondering; how deep can the water that you drive on be before there might be problems? I think i went into 20 cm deep water with the Fiat and it seems ok! Would the radiator run into any problems if muddy water got into it?

yes. If the radiator becomes clogged with mud the engine will probably end up overheating as the radiators efficiency is severely impeded especially when the mud dries out.

As to 20cm deep, doesn't sound like it should be a problem. but depends on how it's driven through...

 

[grimwau]

These are some taken by RobW at our (very wet) NFM4 meeting, lol.

 

[ahmett]

Thank you for the feedback and the pictures!
After looking at them, I am confident that the Fiat 500's "wet" abilities are quite good and there is no problem with 20 cm of muddy water!

 

[blitz7287]

This are some taken by RobW at our (very wet) NFM4 meeting, lol.

Nice pics grimwau

 

[DraigFlag87]

Not as deep, but a few from me too!

Expect steam from exhaust, brakes, rads etc. Fan belt may also slip a little making a "squeak" noise with temporary power loss (i think that's what it is?)

 

[306maxi]

Bah! You people call that a splash!

Mine's bigger! I suspect I may have been going a little quicker than some as that I felt a bit more comfortable driving that piece of crap fast through a big puddle.

 

[udtrev]

Bah! You people call that a splash!

Mine's bigger! I suspect I may have been going a little quicker than some as that I felt a bit more comfortable driving that piece of crap fast through a big puddle.

now if you want a splash

Or then again the ex does her party piece, note the open windows and sunroof !!

 

[maddogmorg]

done about 4-5ft in a friends landrover the lights were partially underwater :slayer: though probably accelerated the problem of bits breaking off the car. lol. wading kit and lifted suspension were fitted mind!

 

[udtrev]

The trouble with deep wading, especially in mud is what carp is getting into the rad cooling area.

The last offroading I did with the truck I had tide marks halfway up the door frames, however I also had a magic trick where my rad became a brick - seizing at 70 in the outside lane of the A303 is not to be reccomended !

 

[Andy Monty]

These are some taken by RobW at our (very wet) NFM4 meeting, lol.

suppose that is one way of washing the salt off the underbody after the winter


one thing that would worry me is the cold shock to the cat and front exhaust sections...

 

[JTD_Liam]

Now i don't wanna come across as a party pooper, but would everyone be expecting Fiat to pay for repairs caused by damage from driving through that amount of water at the speed that seems evident in that first batch of photos? Im all for having fun but that just seems careless to me.

 

[grimwau]

The trouble with deep wading, especially in mud is what carp is getting into the rad cooling area.

The carp aren't a problem, it is the trout and salmon that really cause problems.

 

[306maxi]

Now i don't wanna come across as a party pooper, but would everyone be expecting Fiat to pay for repairs caused by damage from driving through that amount of water at the speed that seems evident in that first batch of photos? Im all for having fun but that just seems careless to me.

I certainly wouldn't expect any damage to be paid for. Personally I wouldn't drive a new or nearly new car through water like that, a 406 worth a few hundred quid? YES

 

[grimwau]

I certainly wouldn't expect any damage to be paid for. Personally I wouldn't drive a new or nearly new car through water like that, a 406 worth a few hundred quid? YES

The problem for some of us was that the water level was particularly high and flowing very fast and the PUB was on the other side of the ford. Mind you, once we got to the pub Rob did encourage some of the others to go back for more, lol.

I think it is called a double dip procession.

 

[RobinPJ]

The problem for some of us was that the water level was particularly high and flowing very fast and the PUB was on the other side of the ford. Mind you, once we got to the pub Rob did encourage some of the others to go back for more, lol.

I think it is called a double dip procession.

Ouch. That's makes my fish gags look good.

 

[grimwau]

Ouch. That's makes my fish gags look good.

I would say it only makes them seem slightly batter.

 

[udtrev]

I would say it only makes them seem slightly batter.

Oh cod they are getting worse !!!

you will keep carping on


I'll get me coat

 

[RobinPJ]

I would say it only makes them seem slightly batter.

That joke scales the height of bad taste.

 

[alfatastic]

That joke scales the height of bad taste.

Holy Mackrel Robin