General description

The body is of welded steel construction available in 3 or 5-door Hatchback, 3 or 5- door Estate, soft-top Cabriolet, or Van configurations.

The body is of monocoque construction and is of energy-absorbing design.

Rust and corrosion protection is applied to all new vehicles and includes zinc phosphate dipping and wax injection of box sections and door interiors.

All body panels are welded, including the front wings, so it is recommended that major body damage repairs are left to your dealer.

    See also:

    Choke control cable - removal, refitting and adjustment
    Pre-1986 models Removal 1 Disconnect the battery earth lead. 2 For improved access, remove the air cleaner unit (Section 2). 3 At the carburettor end of the cable, loosen the cable clamp bolt, d ...

    Rocker gear - dismantling and reassembly
    Dismantling 1 With the rocker assembly removed as described in Section 4, extract the split pin from one end of the rocker shaft (see illustration). 6.1 Rocker shaft assembly components 2 Take ...

    Fluid leak check (Every 6000 miles (10 000 km) or 6 months)
    1 Visually inspect the engine joint faces, gaskets and seals for any signs of water or oil leaks. Pay particular attention to the areas around the rocker cover, cylinder head, oil filter and sump ...