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:

    Cleaning
    WASHING THE EXTERIOR Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral Ph shampoo, such as Motorcraft Detail Wash (ZC-3-A), which is available from your dealer. Never use st ...

    Rear suspension/final drive unit rear mounting (Saloon, Hatchback and Estate models) - renewal
    Note: From May 1986, revised rear suspension/final drive unit rear mounting bolts have been used in production. Whenever the earlier type of bolts are removed, they should be discarded and the lat ...

    Electrical fault-finding - general information
    Note: Refer to the precautions given in “Safety first!” and in Section 1 of this Chapter before starting work. The following tests relate to testing of the main electrical circuits, and should not ...