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:

    Driveshaft check (Every 12 000 miles or 12 months)
    1 Carry out a thorough inspection of the driveshafts and joints as follows. 2 Jack up the front of the car and support it securely on axle stands (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”). 3 Slowly rot ...

    Centre console - removal and refitting
    Removal 1 Remove the gear lever knob. 2 Pull the rubber gaiter up the lever and remove it. 3 Undo the four screws and remove the console (see illustrations). 30.3a Centre console lower retaini ...

    Throttle housing - removal and refitting
    Note: A new gasket must be used on refitting. Removal 1 Disconnect the battery negative lead. 2 Depressurise the fuel system as described in Section 6. 3 Remove the air inlet pipe (see illustrati ...