1997 JAGUAR XJ6 boot

3261 Jaguar XJ6
11
Chapter 11
Bodywork and fittings
Body - maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Body repair - major damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Body repair - minor damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Bonnet - removal, refitting and adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Bonnet and boot lid support struts - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . 9
Bonnet release latch and cable - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Boot lid - removal, refitting and adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Boot lid latch and lock cylinder - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Bumpers - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Centre console - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Cowl cover - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Dashboard trim panels - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Door - removal, refitting and adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Door latch, lock cylinder and handles - removal and refitting . . . . . . 20
Door trim panel - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Door window glass - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Door window glass regulator - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Front spoiler - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Front wing - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Hinges and locks - maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Instrument cluster housing - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Outside mirrors - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Radiator grille - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Seats - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Steering column cover - removal and refitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Upholstery and carpets - maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Vinyl trim - maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Windscreen and fixed glass - replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
11•1
Contents
Easy,suitable for
novice with little
experienceFairly easy,suitable
for beginner with
some experienceFairly difficult,
suitable for competent
DIY mechanic
Difficult,suitable for
experienced DIY
mechanicVery difficult,
suitable for expert DIY
or professional
Degrees of difficulty
54321
1 General information
These models feature a “unibody”
construction, using a floor pan with front and
rear frame side rails which support the body
components, front and rear suspension
systems and other mechanical components.
Certain components are particularly vulnerable
to accident damage and can be unbolted and
repaired or replaced. Among these parts are
the body mouldings, bumpers, front wings,
bonnet and boot lids and all glass.
Only general body maintenance practices
and body panel repair procedures within the
scope of the do-it-yourselfer are included in
this Chapter.
2 Body- maintenance
1
1The condition of your vehicle’s body is very
important, because the resale value depends
a great deal on it. It’s much more difficult to
repair a neglected or damaged body than it is
to repair mechanical components. The hidden
areas of the body, such as the wheel wells,
the frame and the engine compartment, areequally important, although they don’t require
as frequent attention as the rest of the body.
2Once a year, or every 12,000 miles, it’s a
good idea to have the underside of the body
steam cleaned. All traces of dirt and oil will be
removed and the area can then be inspected
carefully for rust, damaged brake lines, frayed
electrical wires, damaged cables and other
problems. The front suspension components
should be greased after completion of this job.
3At the same time, clean the engine and the
engine compartment with a steam cleaner or
water soluble degreaser.
4The wheel wells should be given close
attention, since undercoating can peel away
and stones and dirt thrown up by the tyres
can cause the paint to chip and flake, allowing
rust to set in. If rust is found, clean down to
the bare metal and apply an anti-rust paint.
5The body should be washed about once a
week. Wet the vehicle thoroughly to soften the
dirt, then wash it down with a soft sponge and
plenty of clean soapy water. If the surplus dirt
is not washed off very carefully, it can wear
down the paint.
6Spots of tar or asphalt thrown up from the
road should be removed with a cloth soaked
in solvent.
7Once every six months, wax the body and
chrome trim. If a chrome cleaner is used to
remove rust from any of the vehicle’s plated
parts, remember that the cleaner also removes
part of the chrome, so use it sparingly.
3 Vinyl trim- maintenance
1
Don’t clean vinyl trim with detergents,
caustic soap or petroleum-based cleaners.
Plain soap and water works just fine, with a
soft brush to clean dirt that may be ingrained.
Wash the vinyl as frequently as the rest of the
vehicle.
After cleaning, application of a high quality
rubber and vinyl protectant will help prevent
oxidation and cracks. The protectant can also
be applied to weather-stripping, vacuum lines
and rubber hoses (which often fail as a result
of chemical degradation) and to the tyres.
4 Upholstery and carpets-
maintenance
1
1Every three months remove the carpets or
mats and clean the interior of the vehicle
(more frequently if necessary). Vacuum the
upholstery and carpets to remove loose dirt
and dust.
2Leather upholstery requires special care.
Stains should be removed with warm water
and a very mild soap solution. Use a clean,
damp cloth to remove the soap, then wipe

spray painting technique is mastered. Cover
the repair area with a thick coat of primer. The
thickness should be built up using several thin
layers of primer rather than one thick one.
Using 600-grit wet-or-dry sandpaper, rub
down the surface of the primer until it is very
smooth. While doing this, the work area
should be thoroughly rinsed with water and
the wet-or-dry sandpaper periodically rinsed
as well. Allow the primer to dry before
spraying additional coats.
21Spray on the top coat, again building up
the thickness by using several thin layers of
paint. Begin spraying at the top of the repair
area and then, using a side-to-side motion,
work down until the whole repair area and
about two inches of the surrounding original
paint is covered. Remove all masking material
10 to 15 minutes after spraying on the final
coat of paint. Allow the new paint at least two
weeks to harden, then use a very fine rubbing
compound to blend the edges of the new
paint into the existing paint. Finally, apply a
coat of wax.
6 Body repair- major damage
5
1Major damage must be repaired by an auto
body workshop specifically equipped to
perform unibody repairs. These workshops
have the specialised equipment required to
do the job properly.
2If the damage is extensive, the body must
be checked for proper alignment or the
vehicle’s handling characteristics may be
adversely affected and other components
may wear at an accelerated rate.
3Due to the fact that most of the major body
components (bonnet, front wings, etc.) are
separate and replaceable units, any seriously
damaged components should be replaced
rather than repaired. Sometimes thecomponents can be found in a scrapyard that
specialises in used vehicle components, often
at considerable savings over the cost of new
parts.
7 Hinges and locks-
maintenance
1
Once every 3000 miles, or every three
months, the hinges and latch assemblies on
the doors, bonnet and boot should be given a
few drops of light oil or lock lubricant. The
door latch strikers should also be lubricated
with a thin coat of grease to reduce wear and
ensure free movement. Lubricate the door
and boot locks with spray-on graphite
lubricant.
8 Windscreen and fixed glass-
replacement
5
Replacement of the windscreen and fixed
glass requires the use of special fast-setting
adhesive/caulk materials and some
specialised tools. It is recommended that
these operations be left to a dealer or a
workshop specialising in glass work.
9 Bonnet and boot lid support
struts- removal and refitting
1
1Open the bonnet or boot lid and support it
securely.
2Using a small screwdriver, detach the
retaining clips at both ends of the support
strut. Then pry or pull sharply to detach it from
the vehicle(see illustrations).
3Refitting is the reverse of removal.
10 Bonnet- removal,
refitting and adjustment
2
Note:The bonnet is heavy and somewhat
awkward to remove and refit - at least two
people should perform this procedure.
Removal and refitting
1Use blankets or pads to cover the wings
and the area in front of the bonnet. This will
protect the body and paint as the bonnet is
lifted off.
2Make marks or scribe a line around the
bonnet hinge to ensure proper alignment
during refitting.
3Disconnect any cables or wires that will
interfere with removal.
4Have an assistant support the bonnet.
Remove the hinge-to-bonnet screws or bolts
(see illustration).
5Lift off the bonnet.
6Refitting is the reverse of removal.
Adjustment
7Before the bonnet can be adjusted
properly, both bonnet striker assemblies
Bodywork and fittings 11•3
1110.4 With the help of an assistant to hold
the bonnet, remove the retaining bolts
(arrowed) from each hinge plate, then lift
off the bonnet
3261 Jaguar XJ69.2b The boot lid support strut requires prising out a locking pin
to detach it from the locating stud
9.2a Use a small screwdriver to prise the clip out of its locking
groove, then detach the end of the strut from the mounting stud

3Remove two bumper retaining bolts located
on the bottom side of the bumper (see
illustration). Pull the bumper assembly out
and away from the vehicle to remove it.
4Refitting is the reverse of removal.
15 Front wing-
removal and refitting
3
1Loosen the front wheel nuts. Raise the
vehicle, support it securely on axle stands and
remove the front wheel.
2Remove the front bumper assembly (see
Section 14).
3Remove the front spoiler (see Section 13).4Detach the inner wing splash shield (see
illustration).
5On 1988 and 1989 models, remove the
coolant overflow reservoir located behind the
splash shield (see Chapter 3).
6On models with round headlights, remove
the headlight bezel. On models with
composite headlights (1992 Vanden Plas, all
1993 and later models), remove the headlight
(see Chapter 12).
7Remove the wing mounting bolts and nuts
(see illustrations).
8Detach the wing. It’s a good idea to have an
assistant support the wing while it’s being
moved away from the vehicle to prevent
damage to the surrounding body panels.
9Refitting is the reverse of removal.
16 Boot lid- removal,
refitting and adjustment
2
Note:The boot lid is heavy and somewhat
awkward to remove and refit - at least two
people should perform this procedure.
Removal and refitting
1Open the boot lid and cover the edges of
the boot compartment with pads or cloths to
protect the painted surfaces when the lid is
removed.
2Disconnect any cables or wire harness
connectors attached to the boot lid that would
interfere with removal.
3Make alignment marks around the hinge
mounting bolts with a marking pen.
4While an assistant supports the boot lid,
remove the lid-to-hinge bolts on both sides
and lift it off(see illustration).
5Refitting is the reverse of removal. Note:
When refitting the boot lid, align the lid-to-
hinge bolts with the marks made during
removal.
Adjustment
6Fore-and-aft and side-to-side adjustment
of the boot lid is done by moving the bonnet in
relation to the hinge plate after loosening the
bolts or nuts.
7Scribe a line around the entire hinge plate
as described earlier in this section so you can
judge the amount of movement.
11•6 Bodywork and fittings
14.3 Remove the two retaining bolts from
the bottom of the bumper, then remove the
bumper from the vehicle15.4 Remove the bolts (arrowed) securing
the inner wing splash shield15.7a Detach the wing retaining bolts
(arrowed) at the front of the wing
15.7c Working in the wheel opening,
remove the wing-to-rocker panel bolt
(arrowed)
15.7d Remove the wing-to-door pillar bolt
(arrow; lower bolt not visible)15.7e Detach the bolts along the
top of the wing
3261 Jaguar XJ6
15.7b Remove the wing-to-radiator
support bolt (arrowed)
16.4 With the help of an assistant to hold
the boot lid, remove the retaining bolts and
lift off the boot lid

8Loosen the bolts or nuts and move the boot
lid into correct alignment. Move it only a little
at a time. Tighten the hinge bolts or nuts and
carefully lower the boot lid to check the
alignment.
9If necessary after refitting, the entire boot
lid striker assembly can be adjusted up and
down as well as from side to side on the boot
lid so the lid closes securely and is flush with
the rear quarter panels. To do this, scribe a
line around the boot lid striker assembly to
provide a reference point. Then loosen the
bolts and reposition the striker as necessary
(see illustration). Following adjustment,
retighten the mounting bolts.
10Adjust the bump stops on the boot lid so
the boot lid is flush with the rear wings when
closed (see illustration).
11The boot lid latch assembly, as well as the
hinges, should be periodically lubricated with
white lithium-base grease to prevent sticking
and wear.
17 Boot lid latch and lock
cylinder- removal and
refitting
1
Boot lid latch
1Open the boot and scribe a line around the
boot lid latch assembly for a reference point
to help aid the refitting procedure.2The boot lid latch is retained by three
Phillips-head screws (see illustration). For
adjustment procedures, see Section 16.
3Disengage the lock rod from the latch.
4Disconnect all electrical connectors and
remove the latch.
5Refitting is the reverse of removal.
Boot lock cylinder
6Remove the plastic clips securing the boot
light finish panel (see illustration).
7Looking upward through the boot lid
access hole, remove the lock rod and lock
cylinder retaining bolts (see illustration).
8Disconnect all electrical connections and
remove the lock cylinder assembly.
9Refitting is the reverse of removal.
18 Door trim panel-
removal and refitting
2
1Disconnect the negative cable from the
battery.
Caution: If the stereo in your vehicle is
equipped with an anti-theft system, make
sure you have the correct activation code
before disconnecting the battery
2On front door trim panels, remove the
retaining screw located under the air duct
door seal (see illustration).
3Remove the inside handle trim bezel (see
illustrations).
Bodywork and fittings 11•7
11
17.6 Detach the clips securing the boot
lamp finish panel17.7 Disengage the lock rod (A), then
remove the lock cylinder retaining bolts (B)
18.2 Lift the air duct-to-body seal to
access the trim panel retaining screw
(arrowed)18.3b . . . then detach the inside handle
retaining screw and bezel18.3a Remove the trim cover . . .
3261 Jaguar XJ6 16.9 Loosen the bolts and move the
striker assembly as necessary to adjust
the boot lid flush with the quarter panels
in the closed position
17.2 Remove the retaining screws
(arrowed), then unclip the lock rod and
disconnect any electrical connections16.10 Turn the bump stops in or out so the
boot lid is flush with the rear wings when
in the closed position

14 Electric aerial-
removal and refitting
2
Aerial motor assembly
1Remove the aerial mast retaining nut (see
illustration).
2Working in the boot, pry out the plastic
clips securing the driver’s side boot finishing
panels to allow access to the aerial motor
assembly.
3Detach the motor assembly retaining bolts
(see illustration). Disconnect the electrical
connector and earth strap then remove the
aerial motor assembly from the vehicle.
4Refitting is the reverse of removal.
Aerial mast
5Remove the aerial mast retaining nut (see
illustration 14.1).
6With an assistant controlling the ignition
switch, turn the ignition key and the radio to
the ON position. Guide the aerial mast out of
the body as the cable unwinds from the motor
assembly (see illustration). Note the direction
the “teeth” on the aerial cable are facing for
refitting purposes.
7To refit the aerial mast, insert the aerial
cable into the motor assembly with the cable
teeth facing the direction as noted above.
Have your assistant turn the ignition key and
the radio to the ON position. Guide the cableand aerial mast through the opening as the
cable winds back into the motor assembly.
8Refit the aerial mast retaining nut.
15 Windscreen wiper motor-
removal and refitting
2
1Pull the wiper arm nut cover back to access
the wiper arm nuts. Remove the nuts and pull
the wiper arm straight off the shaft (see
illustration).
2Remove the screws and detach the cowl
cover (see Chapter 11).
3Remove the drive spindle nut (see
illustration).
4Remove the retaining bolts located along
the top edge of the wiper motor housing and
detach three retaining clips along the bottom
edge of the wiper motor housing (see
illustration).
5Disconnect the electrical connector and
remove the motor assembly from the vehicle.
6Refitting is the reverse of removal.
16 Heated rear window-
check and repair
2
1The heated rear window consists of a
number of horizontal elements baked onto the
glass surface.2Small breaks in the element can be repaired
without removing the rear window.
Check
3Turn the ignition switch and heated rear
window switches to the ON position.
4When measuring voltage during the next
two tests, wrap a piece of aluminium foil
around the tip of the voltmeter negative probe
and press the foil against the heating element
with your finger (see illustration). Place the
voltmeter positive lead against the heated
window positive terminal.
5Check the voltage at the centre of each
heating element (see illustration).
12•8 Body electrical system
14.1 The aerial mast retaining nut can be
removed with an open end spanner14.3 Remove the retaining bolts (arrowed),
pull the aerial assembly out and unplug the
electrical connectors and aerial lead14.6 With the ignition key and the radio in
the ON position, guide the aerial mast out
of the motor assembly - note the direction
of the “teeth” on the aerial cable
15.1 Lift up the wiper arm nut cover,
remove the nut and pull the wiper arm
straight off the shaft15.3 Use a spanner or socket to remove
the drive spindle retaining nut15.4 Remove the bolts (A) along the
top edge of the housing and detach the
clips (B) along the bottom edge
3261 Jaguar XJ6
16.4 When measuring the voltage at the
heated rear window grid, wrap a piece of
aluminium foil around the negative probe
of the voltmeter and press the foil against
the element with your finger

Rear direction indicator,
brake, tail and reversing lights
4Open the boot and remove the plastic
knobs securing the tail light housing trim
cover (see illustration).
5Remove two more plastic knobs and
detach the tail light bulb cluster from the rear
tail light housing. The defective bulb can then
be pulled out of the socket and replaced (see
illustration).
Number plate light
6Remove the lens retaining screws (see
illustration).
7Detach the lens and renew the defective
bulb.
High-mounted brake light
8The brake light cover is retained by screws.
Remove the cover and renew the bulb.
Interior lights
9Remove the overhead console (Chapter 11).
Detach the bulb from the retaining clips and
renew the bulb (see illustration).
Instrument cluster illumination
10To gain access to the instrument cluster
illumination lights, the instrument cluster
housing will have to be removed (Chapter 11).
The bulbs can then be removed and replaced
from the rear of the cluster (see illustration).
22 Inertia switch-
description and check
1
1The inertia switch is a safety mechanism
which governs various electrical circuits such
as the central locking, electric window and
ignition circuits. In the event of a crash, the
inertia switch will automatically unlock the
doors, shut off power to all ignition circuits,
and lock the boot lid and the fuel filler cap.
2To test the inertia switch, turn the ignition
key to the ON position, then lock the driver
and passenger side doors and unlock the
boot lid. Then simply pull upward on the
trip/reset button located on top of the inertiaswitch. All ignition circuits should shut off, the
doors should unlock and the boot lid should
lock. To reset the inertia switch, simply push
downward on the trip/reset button (see
illustration).
12•12 Body electrical system
21.6 Detach the lens retaining screws
(arrowed) and the lens to access the
number plate light bulbs21.9 The interior light bulbs can be
accessed after lowering the overhead
console21.10 To remove an instrument cluster
bulb, depress the bulbholder and rotate it
anti-clockwise
3261 Jaguar XJ6 21.4 The Rear direction indicator, brake, tail and reversing light
bulbs are accessible from the boot compartment after removing
the plastic knobs (arrowed) securing the bulb housing covers
21.5 Remove the bulb cluster from the tail light housing - The
bulb is removed by pushing in and turning the bulb anti-clockwise
22.2 The inertia switch is located behind
the passengers side kick panel - pull
upward on the button to trip the switch -
push downward on the button
to reset the switch

3261 Jaguar XJ6
Use of EnglishREF•3
As the main part of this book has been written in the US, it uses the appropriate US component names, phrases, and spelling. Some of these
differ from those used in the UK. Normally, these cause no difficulty, but to make sure, a glossary is printed below. When ordering spare parts,
remember the parts list may use some of these words:
AMERICAN ENGLISH
Aluminum Aluminium
Antenna Aerial
Authorized Authorised
Auto parts stores Motor factors
Axleshaft Halfshaft
Back-up Reverse
Barrel Choke/venturi
Block Chock
Box-end wrench Ring spanner
Bushing Bush
Carburetor Carburettor
Center Centre
Coast Freewheel
Color Colour
Convertible Drop head coupe
Cotter pin Split pin
Counterclockwise Anti-clockwise
Countershaft (of gearbox) Layshaft
Dashboard Facia
Denatured alcohol Methylated spirit
Dome lamp Interior light
Driveaxle Driveshaft
Driveshaft Propeller shaft
Fender Wing/mudguard
Firewall Bulkhead
Flashlight Torch
Float bowl Float chamber
Floor jack Trolley jack
Freeway, turnpike etc Motorway
Freeze plug Core plug
Frozen Seized
Gas tank Petrol tank
Gasoline (gas) Petrol
Gearshift Gearchange
Generator (DC) Dynamo
Ground (electrical) Earth
Header Exhaust manifold
Heat riser Hot spot
High Top gear
Hood (engine cover) Bonnet
Installation Refitting
Intake Inlet
Jackstands Axle stands
Jumper cable Jump lead
Keeper Collet
Kerosene Paraffin
Knock pin Roll pin
Lash Clearance
Lash Free-play
Latch Catch
Latches Locks
License plate Number plate
Light Lamp
Lock (for valve spring retainer) Split cotter (for valve spring cap)
Lopes Hunts
Lug nut/bolt Wheel nut/bolt
Metal chips or debris Swarf
Misses Misfires
AMERICAN ENGLISH
Muffler Silencer
Odor Odour
Oil pan Sump
Open flame Naked flame
Panel wagon/van Van
Parking brake Handbrake
Parking light Sidelight
Pinging Pinking
Piston pin or wrist pin Gudgeon pin
Piston pin or wrist pin Small end, little end
Pitman arm Drop arm
Power brake booster Servo unit
Primary shoe (of brake) Leading shoe (of brake)
Prussian blue Engineer’s blue
Pry Prise (force apart)
Prybar Lever
Prying Levering
Quarter window Quarterlight
Recap Retread
Release cylinder Slave cylinder
Repair shop Garage
Replacement Renewal
Ring gear (of differential) Crownwheel
Rocker panel (beneath doors) Sill panel (beneath doors)
Rod bearing Big-end bearing
Rotor/disk Disc (brake)
Secondary shoe (of brake) Trailing shoe (of brake)
Sedan Saloon
Setscrew, Allen screw Grub screw
Shock absorber, shock Damper
Snap-ring Circlip
Soft top Hood
Spacer Distance piece
Spare tire Spare wheel
Spark plug wires HT leads
Spindle arm Steering arm
Stabilizer or sway bar Anti-roll bar
Station wagon Estate car
Stumbles Hesitates
Tang or lock Tab washer
Throw-out bearing Thrust bearing
Tie-rod or connecting rod (of steering) Trackrod
Tire Tyre
Transmission Gearbox
Troubleshooting Fault finding/diagnosis
Trunk Boot (luggage compartment)
Turn signal Indicator
TV (throttle valve) cable Kickdown cable
Unpublicized Unpublicised
Valve cover Rocker cover
Valve lifter Tappet
Valve lifter or tappet Cam follower or tappet
Vapor Vapour
Vise Vice
Wheel cover Roadwheel trim
Whole drive line Transmission
Windshield Windscreen
Wrench Spanner

3261 Jaguar XJ6
REF•4Buying spare parts
Spare parts are available from many
sources, including maker’s appointed
garages, accessory shops, and motor factors.
To be sure of obtaining the correct parts, it
will sometimes be necessary to quote the
vehicle identification number. If possible, it
can also be useful to take the old parts along
for positive identification. Items such as
starter motors and alternators may be
available under a service exchange scheme -
any parts returned should be clean.
Our advice regarding spare parts is as
follows.
Officially appointed garages
This is the best source of parts which are
peculiar to your car, and which are not
otherwise generally available (eg, badges,
interior trim, certain body panels, etc). It is
also the only place at which you should buy
parts if the vehicle is still under warranty.
Accessory shops
These are very good places to buy
materials and components needed for themaintenance of your car (oil, air and fuel
filters, light bulbs, drivebelts, greases, brake
pads, touch-up paint, etc). Components of
this nature sold by a reputable shop are
usually of the same standard as those used
by the car manufacturer.
Besides components, these shops also sell
tools and general accessories, usually have
convenient opening hours, charge lower
prices, and can often be found close to home.
Some accessory shops have parts counters
where components needed for almost any
repair job can be purchased or ordered.
Motor factors
Good factors will stock all the more
important components which wear out
comparatively quickly, and can sometimes
supply individual components needed for the
overhaul of a larger assembly (eg, brake seals
and hydraulic parts, bearing shells, pistons,
valves). They may also handle work such as
cylinder block reboring, crankshaft regrinding,
etc.
Tyre and exhaust specialists
These outlets may be independent, or
members of a local or national chain. They
frequently offer competitive prices when
compared with a main dealer or local garage,
but it will pay to obtain several quotes before
making a decision. When researching prices,
also ask what “extras” may be added - for
instance fitting a new valve and balancing the
wheel are both commonly charged on top of
the price of a new tyre.
Other sources
Beware of parts or materials obtained from
market stalls, car boot sales or similar outlets.
Such items are not invariably sub-standard,
but there is little chance of compensation if
they do prove unsatisfactory. In the case of
safety-critical components such as brake
pads, there is the risk of financial loss, and
also of an accident causing injury or death.
Second-hand parts or assemblies obtained
from a car breaker can be a good buy in some
circumstances, but this sort of purchase is
best made by the experienced DIY mechanic.
Vehicle identification
Modifications are a continuing and
unpublicised process in vehicle manufacture,
quite apart from major model changes. Spare
parts manuals and lists are compiled upon a
numerical basis, the individual vehicle
identification numbers being essential to
correct identification of the part concerned.
When ordering spare parts, always give as
much information as possible. Quote the car
model, year of manufacture and registration,
chassis and engine numbers as appropriate.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
plate is attached to the base of the driver’s
door pillar left-hand wing valance and is
visible once the bonnet has been opened. The
vehicle identification (chassis) number is also
stamped onto a plate located inside the
windscreen and may also be stamped onto
the right-hand inner wing panel in the engine
compartment (see illustrations).
The trim code and paint codeare also
stamped onto the VIN plate.
The engine numberis stamped onto the
right-hand side of the cylinder block, next to
the distributor (see illustration).
The automatic transmission numberis
stamped onto a metal label attached to the
left-hand side of the transmission housing,
just above the sump (see illustration).The VIN is stamped on the right inner wing
panel of the engine compartment
The engine identification number is
stamped on the right side of the engine
block just behind the distributorThe transmission identification number is
located on the left side of the transmission
housing just above the sump
The VIN is also present on the left side of
the dashboard