Major body damage - repair

Where serious damage has occurred or large areas need renewal due to neglect, it means that completely new sections or panels will need welding in, and this is best left to professionals. If the damage is due to impact, it will also be necessary to completely check the alignment of the bodyshell structure. Due to the principle of construction, the strength and shape of the whole car can be affected by damage to one part. In such instances the service of a dealer with specialist checking jigs are essential. If a body is left misaligned, it is first of all dangerous, as the car will not handle properly, and secondly uneven stresses will be imposed on the steering, engine and transmission, causing abnormal wear or complete failure. Tyre wear may also be excessive.

    See also:

    Hinge and lock check and lubrication (Every 12 000 miles or 12 months)
    1 Work around the vehicle, and lubricate the bonnet, door and tailgate hinges with a light machine oil such as Duckhams Home Oil. 2 Lightly lubricate the bonnet release mechanism and exposed secti ...

    Battery - testing and charging
    Testing Standard and low maintenance battery 1 If the vehicle covers a small annual mileage it is worthwhile checking the specific gravity of the electrolyte every three months to determine the s ...

    Steering wheel - alignment
    1 Owing to the fact that the steering wheel is located on a hexagon shaped steering shaft, it may be difficult to obtain perfect steering wheel alignment due to lack of fine adjustment. 2 It is th ...