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.

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    Engine - removal leaving manual gearbox in vehicle
    Note: A suitable hoist and lifting tackle will be required for this operation. 1.8 litre (R2A type) 1 Disconnect the battery negative lead. 2 Remove the bonnet. 3 Remove the air cleaner. 4 Disco ...

    Aerial - removal and refitting
    Manually-operated type - all models except Cabriolet Removal 1 Withdraw the radio (Section 21) until the aerial lead can be pulled out of the receiver socket. 2 Working under the front wing, rel ...

    Spark plug renewal (Every 12 000 miles (20 000 km) or 12 months)
    1 The correct functioning of the spark plugs is vital for the correct running and efficiency of the engine. It is essential that the plugs fitted are appropriate for the engine. 2 Make sure that t ...