This problem is common to all 4x4's due to the geater clearance bewteen the wheels and wheel arches as previous posters have stated but mainly due to the greater ground clearance under the vehicle.On a car as soon as the water hits the underside of the vehicle which is probably only 9 to12 inches from the ground it is forced sideways and away from the car as can be seen if you watch any TV shots of rally cars going through a ford.
However with the greater clearance of a 4x4 maybe 20 inches the water has time to be forced up and over the bonnet (hood for our US readers) as I experienced on Saturday whilst running as a Course car on the Cambrian rally in North Wales when we hit a water splash at approx 40/50 mph and the water actually completely covered the whole FL2 and we were completly unsighted. Fortunately it was a straight section of forest track and the wipers where on auto and cleared the screen very quickly but it was a bum tightening moment.

On a related matter has anyone tried after it has rained to see how long they can keep the pool of rainwater on the bonnet without it flowing over the back or running back off the front.

Bill Turner. Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

I agree that 4x4s suffer more from this problem.
However has anyone suffered from water coming up through the peddles?
I hit a big big puddle (flood actually) at 60mph stood on the brakes and was ankle deep in water. she handled it very well though no aqua-planning! new undies required!!

Rowy

I spent the week before last in the lake district and was having great fun splashing through all of the water sitting in dips in the road. The FL2 certainly throws a lot of water into the air. The best fun was rounding a corner alongside Ullswater to find waves coming towards me - the lake had risen enough to cover the road.

On one sunny day we went over a rise in the road to find myself heading towards a dip flooded, a few inches deep, for around 20feet. The look of terror on the face on the driver of the car coming the other way was something to behold -But then driving an MX5 with the hood down in such conditions was perhaps not a wise move on his behalf.  He who dies with the most tools wins!

On the problem of the deluging, F/l1s are a lot worse than the current vehicle.
On the problem of water ingress around the feet I think it is coming through the steering column bulkhead grommet, less speed cures the problem! still pining for my 3dr, no removeable hardtop, no drop glass tailgate, no roof rack, no pockets everywhere to stow all that man kit

Just had the same fun in the Lake District last week after there big floods the weekend before,freelander handled really well in the floods, the single track road round lake coniston was really a good test 18'' of water in most places never missed a beat as for puddles it did splash over quite a lot but without mudflaps and the auto wipers i think it could have been worse,but after 6 weeks of ownership and 1800 miles it has passed all my tests.  Freelander2 GS TD4 Manual in Lago Grey .Roof Mount DVD 9.2''Screen~Window Tints~Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth~Retro Fit Sony Satnav~iPhone Dashmount~Side Steps~Woodco Armrest~Mudflaps~Land Rover Sunglass Holder~LED Interior Lights~Private Plate.Evoque Collected 17th Sept 2012.


Also Audi TT Roadster.

Yes, have certainly noticed the water splashing onto the screen. A friend who has covered more than a few a few miles in my car also commented on just this point recently, when we were charging around the Lake District in the recent heavy rain. We did Wrynose and Hardnott passes in the worst weather you can imagine (but it was fun!)


A couple of days later we were driving in convoy, my friend was in front in his VW Phaeton. He was deliberately looking for the standing water and watching the difference in the way his car went through followed by me, there is no doubt the FL2 just loves to throw the water up. It was quite obvious his car was throwing the water sideways and out where mine was throwing it up and over the car. Driving in rain this is not a problem because the wipers are already in motion, but when the rain has stopped and its a matter of driving through standing water then I've learned that the wipers need to come on just before you hit the water. I don't see this as a problem, but its a very odd characteristic .... Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

After all the muddy water been thrown up is making the car dirty, and Land Rover should be dirty


Unless you have just spent 9 hours polishing and waxing it  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

It sure was fun up in here in the Lakes a couple of weekends ago. I had to help out a MR2 that had got stuck in the floods whilst I was out playing. Really impressed with what the Freelander would go through. Mine did splash lots of water of the bonnet etc but it looks good now covered in mud!!

I'll be in the lakes soon for a nice weekend away

I'm not towing my accommodation there, We shall be staying in style http://www.rothaygarden.com/ At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

look nice CG, do they accept farmers though  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

FOR ROWY

I too have had a wet foot after driving through some deep water.

My garage found that the grommet around the steering coloumn, where it goes through the bulkhead, had not been fitted correctly.

Hope that helps you.

npinks wrote:

look nice CG, do they accept farmers though

They will roll out the red carpet, although most places do roll out an old carpet in front of me to protect their real carpet At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Thanks Nazca Sand Eddie

I'll get my mechanic to have a look underneath and investigate, I've been left with a lovely smell of stagnent drain water coming from under the seats.
also got a vibrating sound eminating from the left underside-possibly a displaced heat guard??

Rowy