Exterior equipment and body parts (Opel Vectra C)

The Vectra-C/Signum load-bearing body is a welded structure consisting of a bottom group, sidewalls, roof, front and rear fenders. All body elements are galvanized to protect against corrosion. Repair of the body in case of its significant damage, as well as replacement of the windshield and rear glass, require a fairly high qualification of the performer; it is recommended to entrust their implementation to service station specialists. The hood, tailgate, doors and front fenders - the body elements most vulnerable to accidents - have bolted fasteners and can be easily replaced. When installing new structural elements, it is necessary to ensure that the mating gaps are uniform. A violation of the uniformity of the gap width by no more than 1 mm is allowed.

Note: If work on the bodywork also involves work on electrical equipment (even if it is a simple disconnection of some electrical wire) it is necessary to disconnect the battery (see Chapter 5).

If necessary, use a plastic wedge, such as Hazet 1965-20, to remove trim elements of the bodywork. Clamps and clips damaged when removing trim panels must be replaced. If possible, it is better to replace all removed plastic fasteners. Routine maintenance is of great importance for keeping body elements in good condition and maintaining a respectable appearance of the car. Maintenance procedures are extremely simple, but must be performed on a regular basis. Neglecting the smallest mechanical damage and defects in the paintwork can lead to rapid corrosion and the need for expensive body repairs. It is also important to regularly check the condition of surfaces and parts hidden from view, such as wheel arches, the lower part of the engine compartment bulkheads, etc. It is necessary to periodically wash the car completely, clean the bottom and the structural elements located underneath. During the next scheduled maintenance, inspect all body elements to identify defects, violations of the anti-corrosion coating and their timely elimination. It would be a good idea to use modern car care products - while strictly following the instructions provided in the accompanying instructions for each specific product.

Safety instructions for bodywork

• a) To avoid triggering the additional safety system (SRS) elements as a result of shaking during straightening and other operations, be sure to turn off the ignition and disconnect both wires from the battery pole terminals;
• b) If welding work is necessary, spot welding should be used. If the elements to be welded cannot be reached with welding tongs, then welding in a protective gas environment should be used. When carrying out welding work, it is also mandatory to disconnect or completely remove the battery (see Chapter 5);
• c) On models equipped with an air conditioning system, soldering and welding must not be performed when the system is filled with refrigerant, if the components of the air conditioning system may become hot during these operations. See also safety precautions in Chapter 3, Section 1;
• d) When performing painting or other work to restore the body coating, in order to avoid failure of the electrical wiring and electronic systems, as well as the resolution of the air conditioning system due to increased pressure, do not allow the car to heat up in the drying chamber above +80°C;
• e) The PVC coating applied to the underbody to protect against corrosion should be removed if necessary either with a special metal jaw mounted on a drill or with a spatula after preliminary heating with a special hair dryer. Care should be taken as heating the coating to a temperature of +180°C and above will result in the formation of hydrochloric acid, which will produce fumes that are hazardous to health. The acid also promotes increased corrosion of the underbody.