Underbody photos

[eejake]

Haven't seen any of this type of photo on here before, I figured that some of the more technically interested people would find them interesting if they haven't had a chance to lift their car and remove the panels to see. I'll post a few (not sure of the upload limits) and put a link to a google album of the rest.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mtNJZ8x4Vfb1ser19

 

[MarkClarity]

Is it just me or does that one exposed connector (with no protection from water egress) that enters the cabin under the center console look like it will be causing a lot of issues when it corrodes in a few years?

 

[descolado]

Awesome album! Thank you for sharing. So much tech under there.

 

[Sandroad]

Incredibly valuable info. Thanks very much for posting! Even dealers will appreciate this.

 

[KentuckyKen]

Is it just me or does that one exposed connector (with no protection from water egress) that enters the cabin under the center console look like it will be causing a lot of issues when it corrodes in a few years?


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I think you’re on to something. That does look like an accident waiting to happen if any water can get up there with the underbody covers on.
Thanks. I’m going to ask my trusted mechanic if a big shot of dielectric grease would be in order.

 

[eejake]

Is it just me or does that one exposed connector (with no protection from water egress) that enters the cabin under the center console look like it will be causing a lot of issues when it corrodes in a few years?

I think you're referring to the one on the lower right with the multiple colored wires?

If so, the wires actually have soft gaskets around them as they enter the connector to keep water/contamination out of the conductive pins behind. The connector would also have a gasket into it's mate as well. This is quite common on automotive grade exterior connectors.

I agree that it is a bit funny that the lowest (and closest to the ground) is the least protected. Also, as I've unfortunately found out, probably at risk of rodent chewing.

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In response to everyone else, I'm happy to share, hopefully it will provide some level of assistance. The design and relative ease of access for maintenance is quite impressive.

I've been under a lot of cars and I think the robust aluminum under frame and suspension components show that Honda did not cheap out of this vehicle.

 

[eejake]

In response to everyone else, I'm happy to share, hopefully it will provide some level of assistance. The design and relative ease of access for maintenance is quite impressive.

I've been under a lot of cars and I think the robust aluminum under frame and suspension components show that Honda did not cheap out of this vehicle.

Haha, oops, I'm not so great at forum quotes. My response was accidentally in the quote:

I think you're referring to the one on the lower right with the multiple colored wires?

If so, the wires actually have soft gaskets around them as they enter the connector to keep water/contamination out of the conductive pins behind. The connector would also have a gasket into it's mate as well. This is quite common on automotive grade exterior connectors.

I agree that it is a bit funny that the lowest (and closest to the ground) is the least protected. Also, as I've unfortunately found out, probably at risk of rodent chewing.

 

[larrenz]

So nice to see what's under there. Thanks for the pics.

 

[MPower]

Before I bought my Clarity, i was fishing around on the internet trying to figure out what car to buy. Somewhere out there (youtube?), I saw a video of the underside of the car. I was quite taken aback at the amount of stuff crammed in underneath and thought about the 1937 Plymouth that we had in my childhood.

One of the entertainments my cousins and I enjoyed on the 14 hour trips from VT to Philadelphia was to remove the carpet sample from the hole over the rusted out floor and watch the road surface with the dog lolling in the heat and drooling down our necks -- a nice change front 99 bottles of beer on the wall. No matter how long the Clarity lasts, as long as it is still functional, no children will be able to entertain themselves that way.

 

[MrFixit]

Is it just me or does that one exposed connector (with no protection from water egress) that enters the cabin under the center console look like it will be causing a lot of issues when it corrodes in a few years?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe all of these shots have the extensive arrangement of under panels removed.
As such, most of what you see (including these connectors) are not exposed to any kind of weather.

 

[MarkClarity]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe all of these shots have the extensive arrangement of under panels removed.
As such, most of what you see (including these connectors) are not exposed to any kind of weather.

That section has the exhaust pipe, so remains open.

The start of this video shows the underside with all panels.

 

[Teslawannabe]

I'm with you on this, that connection could be improved. The road splash you see in Florida is very severe on any normal rainy day. We get more rain in a few hours than many states get in a month. Shields are helpful but water pressure goes in many directions.

Is it just me or does that one exposed connector (with no protection from water egress) that enters the cabin under the center console look like it will be causing a lot of issues when it corrodes in a few years?


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Sent from my SM-N960U using Inside EVs mobile app

 

[Andrew97]

That's awesome pics you got there, thanks mate!

 

[eejake]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe all of these shots have the extensive arrangement of under panels removed.
As such, most of what you see (including these connectors) are not exposed to any kind of weather.

There are also panels installed shots in the google photos link in the first post.

 

[Kerbe]

I think the robust aluminum under frame and suspension components show that Honda did not cheap out of this vehicle.

The Clarity frame employs six different grades of steel - SFAIK aluminum is used only in body panels (except the roof).

 

[eejake]

The Clarity frame employs six different grades of steel - SFAIK aluminum is used only in body panels (except the roof).

Take a look through the photos, there are copious amounts of aluminum used in the under frame, crossmember and suspension assemblies. There's another post on this forum just dedicated to the special 5 link aluminum rear suspension. Even the rear hub/knuckle is aluminum.

 

[insightman]

The Clarity frame employs six different grades of steel - SFAIK aluminum is used only in body panels (except the roof).

Here's a Honda graphic showing the steel, aluminum, and composite materials that go into the Clarity's structure. I don't see the steel roof and rear fenders--I guess that's because this diagram focuses on the places where certain materials were used specifically to reduce weight (such as in the underbody):

 

[Kerbe]

Take a look through the photos, there are copious amounts of aluminum used in the under frame, crossmember and suspension assemblies. There's another post on this forum just dedicated to the special 5 link aluminum rear suspension. Even the rear hub/knuckle is aluminum.

I guess I don't know what you mean by the term, "under frame". The largest amount of aluminum used is in the body panels, not in the frame. The only frame member that's aluminum is the engine-mount subframe. I realize that the suspension has aluminum componentry: There's this from Honda's Clarity Press Kit -
"The lightweight front suspension utilizes forged aluminum lower arms and hollow cast iron steering knuckles that are 10 percent lighter than conventional solid cast iron knuckles and the lower arms use liquid-filled bushings to minimize unwanted noise, vibration and harshness. All of the rear suspension arms are made of forged aluminum, achieving a 40 percent weight reduction versus a conventional steel design."

The front subframe is a one-piece, hollow die cast aluminum component offering a 20 percent weight reduction versus conventional designs. The technique was developed though Honda's experience in the development of hollow aluminum motorcycle frame components.

 

[Kerbe]

Here's a Honda graphic showing the steel, aluminum, and composite materials that go into the Clarity's structure. I don't see the steel roof and rear fenders--I guess that's because this diagram focuses on the places where certain materials were used specifically to reduce weight (such as in the underbody):

I think you might be misreading this diagram: Only the pale blue components are aluminum - the gray underbody is steel alloy. I've attached a more easily interpreted document from Honda. And, yes - the roof and rear fenders are a one-piece steel stamping.

 

[insightman]

I think you might be misreading this diagram: Only the pale blue components are aluminum - the gray underbody is steel alloy. I've attached a more easily interpreted document from Honda. And, yes - the roof and rear fenders are a one-piece steel stamping.

In the diagram I attached, I assumed the pieces in the "Aluminum and Composite" column were aluminum or composites. However, the much more detailed document you attached makes it clear that the "Aluminum and Composite" column contains mostly different strengths of steel components. Evidently, Honda classifies pieces made of different strengths of steel joined together as composites.

Thanks for the clarification.