It's here

[maddogsetc]

They quote a wading depth of 400mm on the Mitsubishi website

So they do - makes the handbook statement a bit of a conundrum :? May have to query this one with them.

 

[Hypermiler]

Good grief re face vents. Not sure how we will live with that as I ALWAYS have fresh air on me and my husband ALWAYS turns his off, which drives me crazy as the kids need air in the back and I'm forever turning them back on (hang on - if he can't turn them off, maybe that's a good thing)...

I will have to get him a balaclava. Picking up the car on Saturday, fingers crossed.
H

 

[jaapv]

A few more observations today:

1) There are no controls on the face level heating/cooling vents to turn them down or off :roll: So if your passenger wants hot air to the face, and you don't, tough - the only way to adjust them is via the central fan speed control :!: Didn't notice this before - seems like a strange omission :?

You turn the vents off by shoving the direction lever all the way to one side.

 

[jaapv]

Good grief re face vents. Not sure how we will live with that as I ALWAYS have fresh air on me and my husband ALWAYS turns his off, which drives me crazy as the kids need air in the back and I'm forever turning them back on (hang on - if he can't turn them off, maybe that's a good thing)...

I will have to get him a balaclava. Picking up the car on Saturday, fingers crossed.
H

Don't worry, you can switch them off (see above)

 

[jaapv]

They quote a wading depth of 400mm on the Mitsubishi website

So they do - makes the handbook statement a bit of a conundrum :? May have to query this one with them.

400 mm will submerge the exhaust.
OTOH the handbook is full of dire warnings which only seem to be there to limit liability.

 

[Hypermiler]

Thanks both re the vents - that's a relief.
40cm sounds a bit optimistic if exhaust would be submerged. That's disappointing given the flooding we've had in this country these last few years.
H

 

[maddogsetc]

400 mm will submerge the exhaust.

On a 'conventional' car that's not necessarily a game stopper as the pressure of exhaust gases should prevent water ingress. The manual refers to electrical problems, which was my immediate concern - with the batteries being mounted low down. However, if the ICE is not running then water will get into the exhaust although I'm not sure how much of a problem that is likely to be.

Will test those air vents today - thanks for the tip jaapv.

 

[jkh112]

400 mm will submerge the exhaust.

On a 'conventional' car that's not necessarily a game stopper as the pressure of exhaust gases should prevent water ingress. The manual refers to electrical problems, which was my immediate concern - with the batteries being mounted low down. However, if the ICE is not running then water will get into the exhaust although I'm not sure how much of a problem that is likely to be.

Will test those air vents today - thanks for the tip jaapv.

If you are going to drive through water then you could engage charge mode to keep the engine running.

 

[apyds]

OK; so here is where I am getting really angry with Mitsubishi and my dealer.

Two representations they made to me before buying the car:

1: The USB port in the golve compartment will charge my phone

2: That the air intake valve was located above the engine and, therefore, "when we have floods in the area and I would want to drive through say a meter of water, the PHEV will be able to make it through". They also confirmed "that the battery underneath the PHEV will not short circuit when driving through snow/ water etc."

The first point re the USB I asked via email and both Mitsubishi (at the their stand at Badmington) and my dealer verbally told me the USB will charge my cell phone. The USB sockets does not charge cell phones - it is only there for data transfer as I originally suspected.

As to the second point, I confirmed by email that is the representation my dealer made on 29 May (after I had paid deposit and test drove but before full purchase). Becoming clear now that can not drive it through a meter of water. I would be grateful if someone would kindly let me know what page of the manual it states that PHEV cannot wade deeper than 400 mm.

OKay so if I remember rightly from when I did my law degree, as a result of their negligent misrepresentations I can return the car and get my money back but in all honesty I don't want to do so. What I want is to make adjustments to the car so that it can charge my phone and wade in upto 1 meter.

To charge my phone is easy - they just need to buy me a good car charger (not ideal but better than nothing).

As to wading into a meter of water - slightly more difficult - anyone got any ideas?

Obviously another option is they pay me an extra £40k to get a disco and that will be the only option if they can't sort these problems out otherwise

 

[apyds]

Incidentally, anyone got any suggestions as to a good charger that can charge a variety of different devices from a usb port. The best on the market please!

 

[maddogsetc]

I would be grateful if someone would kindly let me know what page of the manual it states that PHEV cannot wade deeper than 400 mm.

apyds, the 400mm wading depth is on the website - I haven't found it in the manual - yet. The manual (page 9-21) says bluntly "do not drive on a flooded road, not only does the plugin hybrid EV system stop but there may be a failure like electric leakage or short circuit".

Clearly the term "a flooded road" is pretty subjective and unquantified, perhaps they mean flooded to more than 400mm? Either way I think we need some clarification from Mitsubishi. Is your email from the dealer or from Mitsubishi themselves?

If you are going to drive through water then you could engage charge mode to keep the engine running.

Yes, that did occur to me too. It's the electrical systems that are the bigger concern IMHO.

 

[apyds]

I would be grateful if someone would kindly let me know what page of the manual it states that PHEV cannot wade deeper than 400 mm.

apyds, the 400mm wading depth is on the website - I haven't found it in the manual - yet. The manual (page 9-21) says bluntly "do not drive on a flooded road, not only does the plugin hybrid EV system stop but there may be a failure like electric leakage or short circuit".

Clearly the term "a flooded road" is pretty subjective and unquantified, perhaps they mean flooded to more than 400mm? Either way I think we need some clarification from Mitsubishi. Is your email from the dealer or from Mitsubishi themselves?

The email is from me to the dealer stating:

"On another point, I also wanted to confirm that you said to me that the air intake valve on the PHEV is located on top of the engine. Therefore, when we have floods in the area and I would want to drive through say a meter of water, the PHEV will be able to make it through. You also said that the battery underneath the PHEV will not short circuit when driving through snow/ water etc."

Can you possibly point me to the web site please maddog if you can find it quick? Don't have time to search now as someone is about to come and pick up my old car which I have sold.

 

[Cityblueboy]

.

As to wading into a meter of water - slightly more difficult - anyone got any ideas?

Even the brand new Range Rover only has a wading depth of 900mm, i believe the disco 4 is 700mm. Obviously extras like a snorkel etc can be fitted but to wade through a metre of water in any 4x4 is unadvisable in my view.

 

[rjs104]

The wading thing - unless we're talking serious 4x4 wading, then I should have thought the PHEV was up to crossing fords and deep puddles of water that have collected in heavy rainfall...

Presumably, if the ICE isn't actually running, a bit of water in the vicinity of the exhaust isn't actually going to cause too much concern - it'll drain as soon as you reach dry land...

I believe the batteries are sealed sufficiently for moderate off-roading (I remember reading somewhere) - and as another poster has commented, there are quite a few vids and pictures of the PHEV in water situations and presumably they came out alright...

And it did that Asia rally thing and probably got pretty wet.

A meter of water depth is something else though - and then surely you'd be thinking more defender/disco sort of territory rather than this vehicle?

The USB not charging is more annoying to me - as this would be a likely day-to-day use (rather than the odd bit of flooding). Seems bonkers that they provide a USB port that doesn't have the capability to charge. Are they worried about this transfer of power hitting the EV range?!?!? :shock:

R.

 

[rjs104]

PS - what cell are you trying it with? an iPhone? I wonder if it's phone specific and will charge some devices?

R.

 

[maddogsetc]

Wading depth is here (need to open up the section for weights/volumes):

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/outlander/specifications.aspx

cityboyblue & rjs104 are right though - 1m wading depth is the territory of 'proper' offroaders and even then only with specialist kit added.

Frankly I'd be quite happy with 400mm wading depth, it's the suggestion that any flooded road is a no go that concerns me a little. These vids on youtube - do they look like stock cars wading? I posted up the rally clip but that's no comfort to me as all rally cars are prepped specifically for the expected conditions.

We have various phones here, when I'm not covered in paint I'll try some out and see if any work. Will also try and measure the floor length rjs

 

[jkh112]

The USB not charging is more annoying to me - as this would be a likely day-to-day use (rather than the odd bit of flooding). Seems bonkers that they provide a USB port that doesn't have the capability to charge. Are they worried about this transfer of power hitting the EV range?!?!? :shock:

R.

I had not heard about the USB before. I am hoping to plug in a USB memory stick containing my music and then play it through the stereo, is this going to be possible?

 

[rjs104]

If I've posted an image correctly, above should show a pic I found of a PHEV wading (ish!) through water - there is a front view at this website too.

 

[rjs104]

After a bit of googling, I've found this website which seems to be the system (software?) Mitsubishi use to handle interfacing to mobile phones and USB devices.

Quite a lot of useful information, including a specification of what should and shouldn't be possible with a given device. It implies that an iPhone will be charged by the usb port...

http://www.mitsubishifuse.com/nav_choose.taf

 

[apyds]

PS - what cell are you trying it with? an iPhone? I wonder if it's phone specific and will charge some devices?

R.

I am using it with Android. Definately not showing any charging. Similar to a BMW I rented a few months ago. The rental company confirmed the USB port was only for data transfer.