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HATCH RELEASE
LEVER
14. SERVICING
AND MAINTENANCE
BODYCARE
Bodv
Fealures
L;lus,s
amongst
the
wodd leaders
in
lhe field
olaulomotive
comDosite
moulding design
and
manufacturing
techniques
com-
oos,ie
mate
als
have
maior
advanlages
for
sp€cialist
car
bodiss
;nd
hese briefnotes
intrcdLrce some
fealures
ofthe
construclion
and service prop€rties of
automolive
composite bodies-
The manufacturing process enables
the
thickness
of
compos-
ite
mouldings to
be
varjed
in
order to provido efiicient
struclures
of
hiq h
slrength and
low
weight Compositesw,
not
corlode.
so
Lhe
sirenqth ofcomposite componenls
is
relained
regardl€ss
of
aqe,
Lrnless
physical damage is
sustained
On
the
Evo€'
lhe
b;dyconslruclion
utilises several
mould
ings lo
fotm
a
single unit
incorcorating
ihe
two
iront
wing
lops
and
frcnt
body
panel
A
second
unitforthe
rear body
aftofthe
doors
incoporates
both
rearwings,
the tailgate aperture and trunk
slructure.
The
nose
and tail
oi lhe
car aIe capped
by
deformable 'bumpet'
mould_
ings designed to
reducedamage
to
lhe
main body and chassis
structure caused by minor knocks and parking incurcions,
All body panels
atound
the
tiont and rear
of
lhe
car
are
secured using threaded fastenerc
to
permit easy removal
lor
access
lo
chassis
or
powertlain components, or
to
allow sim-
ple
and economic accident
rcpair
Othet composite
mouldings
include
ihe
door shells,
sills,
*ont
body access panel'
tailgate,
windscreen fram€
and
Iearbulkhead,
some panels being
bonded
lo
the
aluminium
alloychassis
or
to
neighbouring
mouldingswith
an elastomeric adhesive.
Several different prcc€sses are
used
to manufactule
the
vari-
ous panels depsnding
on
the parlicular functional requk€ments,
but all
processes
provide
a
high resistance to
sudace damage
tiom
minor knocks,
where
a
st€elpanelwould
become denled.
lf
severe damage
is
caused
lo a
composite panel where
lhe
underlying structure
is
broken, repairs may
take
the
fom
ot
panel replacemeni, or of
panel
repair
using
techniques
where
new composite material
is integ€ted
with the old
lo
result
in
undiminished
panel strength.
Front
Bodv
Access
Hatch
The hrnq;d
fiont
bodv access
hatch
provides access
to the
bEke/cludh
fluid res€rvorr and
the
windscrcen/headlamp
washer
rcservoirfillet
To oDen
the hatch, from the inboard
sde
of eilher
footwell
.ress
iownthe
release
lever,lhe
nalch
maythen
be
rcrsedrully
;y
hand.
Relurn the
€lease
lever
lo
rts
fully raised
positron
Before closino.
check thal the 'eservoir caps
are secure
lower
the
lio.
an;
press
frmly
ovet the
latch
check
that
the
panel
is
fully
securc'
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