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:

    Spark plug renewal (Every 12 000 miles or 12 months)
    The procedure is as described for RS Turbo models in Section 15. ...

    Electronic modules - removal and refitting
    Note: Refer to Section 1 for precautions to be observed when working with electronic modules. 1 Disconnect the battery negative lead. All ESC modules except ESC (early “Economy” models) 2 All mo ...

    Front suspension strut - removal, overhaul and refitting
    Removal 1 Slacken the roadwheel bolts, raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on stands (see “Jacking and Vehicle Support”), then remove the roadwheel. 2 Support the underside of ...