The short answer
Walk the crossing and judge the depth, current, bed and exit before you drive. Use 4L, drive slowly and steadily without stopping or changing gear, and make a gentle bow wave. If you are not sure, do not cross. Afterwards, dry the brakes, check the diff and transfer oils for milky water, and look at the air intake and electrics.
Do
- Walk it first, with a stick
- Check the exit as well as the entry
- Use 4L and a steady crawl
- Dry the brakes after
- Check the diff oils after
Do not
- Cross fast flowing water
- Trust a wading figure
- Stop or change gear mid-river
- Cross at night or in flood
- Drive on with a milky oil
Before you cross
- Look upstream and downstream. Is the level rising? Rain upstream matters
- Walk it with a stick, checking depth and the bed. Mud, big rocks and soft sand are traps
- Pick the line where it is shallowest and slowest, and where the exit is gentle
- Check the car: see snorkels and water crossings
- Brief everyone, and release seat belts only if the water is deep, in line with how you will exit
Depth. One source gives the Jimny wading depth as 300 mm and another as 600 mm. Treat both with caution and let the depth of the water you can see decide.
Crossing
- Select 4L, and use first gear, so you do not need to change gear
- Enter slowly and steadily, and make a small bow wave, not a big splash
- Keep the throttle steady and do not stop
- Keep the wheel straight and follow your line
- Exit slowly, and keep going until you are out of the water
After the crossing
- Dry the brakes by pressing the pedal gently a few times as you drive on
- Check the diff and transfer case oils for a milky look, and the brake fluid level
- Look at the air filter and intake for water
- Check the electrics, lights and battery connections
- If anything looks wrong, see a workshop before the next trip. See fluids and filters and brakes and wheel bearings
Pick your crossing
Tap a crossing to see what to do.
Tap a crossing (6 to try)
What to do for Ankle deep, clear
- Do this
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- Details
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Common mistakes
- Trusting a wading figure. Sources conflict.
- Crossing fast flowing water. The car can be swept.
- Stopping mid-river. Water can stall the engine.
- Skipping the checks after. Water in oils does damage.
- Crossing at night. You cannot judge it.
A final word. General technique, not a substitute for training or your owner's manual. Practise on easy ground first, with a spotter, and stop if you are unsure. Never cross water you cannot judge. Wading figures for the Jimny conflict between sources.