1982 FORD SIERRA heater

The model range includes 4-door Saloon, 3
and 5-door Hatchback, 5-door Estate, and 2-
door Pick-up body styles.
Each body is of all-steel welded energy-
absorbing monocoque construction, with a
separate load-bearing rear chassis frame on
P100 Pick-up models. Corrosion protection is
applied to all new vehicles, and includes zinc
phosphate dipping of the body panels, and
wax injection of box sections and doors.
All models have flush direct-glazed fixed glass
panels, and integrated polycarbonate bumpers.
All body panels are welded, including the
front wings, so it is recommended that major
body damage repairs are entrusted to a dealer.
A wide range of interior equipment and trim
options are available depending on model.
The procedures given in this Chapter apply to
original equipment fitments, and do not cover
after-market products.
The general condition of a vehicle’s
bodywork is the one thing that significantly
affects its value. Maintenance is easy but
needs to be regular. Neglect, particularly after
minor damage, can lead quickly to further
deterioration and costly repair bills. It is
important also to keep watch on those parts of
the vehicle not immediately visible, for instance
the underside, inside all the wheel arches and
the lower part of the engine compartment.
The basic maintenance routine for the
bodywork is washing - preferably with a lot of
water, from a hose. This will remove all the
loose solids which may have stuck to the
vehicle. It is important to flush these off in
such a way as to prevent grit from scratching
the finish. The wheel arches and underframe
need washing in the same way to remove any
accumulated mud which will retain moisture
and tend to encourage rust. Oddly enough,
the best time to clean the underframe and
wheel arches is in wet weather when the mud
is thoroughly wet and soft. In very wet
weather the underframe is usually cleaned of
large accumulations automatically and this is
a good time for inspection.
Periodically, except on vehicles with a wax-
based underbody protective coating, it is a
good idea to have the whole of the underframe
of the vehicle steam cleaned, engine
compartment included, so that a thorough
inspection can be carried out to see what
minor repairs and renovations are necessary.
Steam cleaning is available at many garages
and is necessary for removal of the
accumulation of oily grime which sometimes is
allowed to become thick in certain areas. If
steam cleaning facilities are not available,
there are one or two excellent grease solvents
available, which can be brush applied. The dirt
can then be simply hosed off. Note that thesemethods should not be used on vehicles with
wax-based underbody protective coating or
the coating will be removed. Such vehicles
should be inspected annually, preferably just
prior to winter, when the underbody should be
washed down and any damage to the wax
coating repaired using a proprietry brand
undershield. Ideally, a completely fresh coat
should be applied. It would also be worth
considering the use of such wax-based
protection for injection into door panels, sills,
box sections, etc, as an additional safeguard
against rust damage where such protection is
not provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
After washing paintwork, wipe off with a
chamois leather to give an unspotted clear
finish. A coat of clear protective wax polish, will
give added protection against chemical
pollutants in the air. If the paintwork sheen has
dulled or oxidised, use a cleaner/polisher
combination to restore the brilliance of the
shine. This requires a little effort, but such
dulling is usually caused because regular
washing has been neglected. Care needs to be
taken with metallic paintwork, as special non-
abrasive cleaner/polisher is required to avoid
damage to the finish. Always check that the
door and ventilator opening drain holes and
pipes are completely clear so that water can be
drained out. Bright work should be treated in
the same way as paint work. Windscreens and
windows can be kept clear of the smeary film
which often appears by the use of a proprietary
glass cleaner. Never use any form of wax or
other body or chromium polish on glass.
At the specified intervals, check the
operation of the door locks and check straps
and lubricate the hinges with a little oil. Also
lubricate the hinges of the bonnet and boot lid
or tailgate, as applicable, and the bonnet
release mechanism.
Mats and carpets should be brushed or
vacuum cleaned regularly to keep them free of
grit. If they are badly stained remove them
from the vehicle for scrubbing or sponging and
make quite sure they are dry before refitting.
Seats and interior trim panels can be kept
clean by wiping with a damp cloth and a
proprietry wax polish. If they do become
stained (which can be more apparent on light
coloured upholstery) use a little liquid
detergent and a soft nail brush to scour the
grime out of the grain of the material. Do not
forget to keep the headlining clean in the same
way as the upholstery. When using liquid
cleaners inside the vehicle do not over-wet the
surfaces being cleaned. Excessive damp
could get into the seams and padded interior
causing stains, offensive odours or even rot. If
the inside of the vehicle gets wet accidentally it
is worthwhile taking some trouble to dry it out
properly, particularly where carpets are
involved. Do not leave oil or electric heaters
inside the vehicle for this purpose.Repair of minor scratches in
bodywork
If the scratch is very superficial, and does not
penetrate to the metal of the bodywork, repair is
very simple. Lightly rub the area of the scratch
with a paintwork renovator, or a very fine cutting
paste, to remove loose paint from the scratch
and to clear the surrounding bodywork of wax
polish. Rinse the area with clean water.
Apply touch-up paint to the scratch using a
fine paint brush; continue to apply fine layers
of paint until the surface of the paint in the
scratch is level with the surrounding
paintwork. Allow the new paint at least two
weeks to harden: then blend it into the
surrounding paintwork by rubbing the scratch
area with a paintwork renovator or a very fine
cutting paste. Finally, apply a good wax polish.
Where the scratch has penetrated right
through to the metal of the bodywork, causing
the metal to rust, a different repair technique is
required. Remove any loose rust from the
bottom of the scratch with a penknife, then
apply rust inhibiting paint, to prevent the
formation of rust in the future. Using a rubber or
nylon applicator fill the scratch with bodystopper
paste. If required, this paste can be mixed with
cellulose thinners to provide a very thin paste
which is ideal for filling narrow scratches. Before
the stopper-paste in the scratch hardens, wrap
a piece of smooth cotton rag around the top of a
finger. Dip the finger in cellulose thinners; and
then quickly sweep it across the surface of the
stopper-paste in the scratch; this will ensure that
the surface of the stopper-paste is slightly
hollowed. The scratch can now be painted over
as described earlier in this Section.
Repair of dents in bodywork
When deep denting of the vehicle’s
bodywork has taken place, the first task is to
pull the dent out, until the affected bodywork
almost attains its original shape. There is little
point in trying to restore the original shape
completely, as the metal in the damaged area
will have stretched on impact and cannot be
reshaped fully to its original contour. It is better
to bring the level of the dent up to a point which
is about 1/8 in (3 mm) below the level of the
surrounding bodywork. In cases where the dent
is very shallow anyway, it is not worth trying to
pull it out at all. If the underside of the dent is
accessible, it can be hammered out gently from
behind, using a mallet with a wooden or plastic
head. Whilst doing this, hold a suitable block of
wood firmly against the outside of the panel to
absorb the impact from the hammer blows and
thus prevent a large area of the bodywork from
being “belled-out”.
Should the dent be in a section of the
bodywork which has a double skin or some
other factor making it inaccessible from
behind, a different technique is called for. Drill
several small holes through the metal inside
the area particularly in the deeper section.
4Minor body damage - repair
3Maintenance - upholstery and
carpets
2Maintenance - bodywork,
underside and fittings
1General information
12•2Bodywork and fittings

4Unclip the trim panel from the lower edge of
the lower facia panel.
5Remove the four securing screws and
withdraw the lower facia panel. Where
applicable, disconnect the loudspeaker
wiring.
6Refitting is a reversal of removal.
Passenger side lower facia panel
7Remove the two securing screws and
withdraw the side trim panel from the left-
hand side of the footwell.
8Remove the centre console to gain access
to the lower facia panel securing screws.
9Unclip the trim panel from the lower edge of
the lower facia panel.
10Unscrew the seven securing screws and
withdraw the lower facia panel. Disconnect
the wiring from the loudspeaker, glovebox
lamp, ashtray lamp, heater switch, cigarette
lighter, radio/cassette player, and
loudspeaker balance control, as applicable. It
is advisable to label the wiring plugs to assist
refitting in the correct positions.
11Refitting is a reversal of removal.
Upper facia panel
12Remove the lower facia panels as
described previously in this Section.13Remove the instrument panel (Chapter 13).
14Where applicable, remove the trip
computer and “door ajar” monitor.
15Remove the heater control panel.
16Prise out the front and rear foglamp, heated
rear window and heated windscreen switches
and the instrument light and intermittent wiper
rheostats, as applicable, from the upper facia
panel, and disconnect their wiring plugs. It is
advisable to label the wiring plugs to assist
refitting in the correct positions.
17Remove the five securing screws and
withdraw the upper facia panel through the
passenger door aperture. Disconnect the
heater vent hoses, and ensure that any
remaining wiring is disconnected and where
applicable unclipped from the facia panel.
18Refitting is a reversal of removal.
Models from 1992
19A restyled facia is fitted from 1992. The
procedures for removal and refitting of the
various panels are essentially as described
above, noting the following points(see
illustration).
Bodywork and fittings 12•17
1243.19 Facia components and securing screw locations (arrowed) - models from 1992
A Upper facia panel
B Passenger’s side lower facia panel
C Driver’s side lower facia panel
D Heater fan control cover and bezel
E Clock/auxiliary warning system displayF Instrument panel surround and screw covers
G Clock/auxiliary warning system display
surround
H Instrument cluster
J Instrument cluster surround
A Upper facia panel
B Passenger side lower facia panelC Driver’s side lower facia panel
43.1 Facia panel securing screw locations (arrowed)
43.2 Withdraw the side trim panel from the
footwell