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:

    Power steering gear - removal and refitting
    Note: New power steering fluid hose O-rings will be required when refitting. Removal 1 The procedure is as described for manual steering gear with the following differences (see illustration). ...

    Rear seat catch - removal and refitting
    Saloon models 1 Working in the luggage compartment, release the seat catch by pulling the release knob, or if the cable is broken, use a screwdriver to release the catch itself. 2 Fold the backre ...

    Throttle cable - adjustment, removal and refitting
    Adjustment 1 Disconnect the battery earth lead. 2 On manual transmission models remove the air cleaner unit, as given in Section 2. 3 Get an assistant to sit in the driving seat and fully depress ...