[Gaz1975]

Today my other half drove her 1.7 Puma out of the sale room (Reg Y868 SJH) 56k with fsh, receipts, and all the usual replacements, cambelt, clutch, fuel pump, water pump. It drives nicely.

However on reading all the paperwork tonight I notice the sill was welded in 2014, the same time the seat belt anchorage point failed the MOT, so I
presume the weld was the fix for it.

I am now panicking thinking that it could be extremely rotten underneath. If the sill was welded, is this s good indicator that the floor could be rotten.

It's a lovely car, I did check underneath but it was difficult to see much and I am not that knowledgable.

Can you put my mind at rest?!

We are based in Teesside, and hopefully look forward to immersing in all things Puma!

[eldoodarino]

I shouldn't worry about it.. It's probably just a small section that has been patched...

might be worth getting someone to check the general condition of the sills/flor etc..

[Gaz1975]

Thank you for the reply, it's calmed me somewhat!

It was serviced and a new fuel pump fitted before we took it away and the garage said the MOT place who fitted the pump said it was a good one. I probably paid over the odds for it but it was 10 miles from home and I thought given the low mileage as long as it looked ok I'd go for it. I ran a magnet along all the arches and it stuck all the way around so I think apart from tbe weld patch and the receipt (£150) showing the work carried out, I think it's had no other structural work.

I have driven diesels all my life and at the moment we have a ten year old X-Trail. This is the first time we have had anything remotely sporty, but I really wanted one when they came out when I was 20, but practicalities and dogs pushed me another way.

It looks like no exoense was spared after reading the history and receipts, servicing every year even if it's only done 700 miles in between.

I just want to baby it through the winter, we have no garage and it's doing 3 days a week travel at 55 mile a time. I'm quite happy to spend a decent amount in the warmer months getting the underside protected by a specialist and what ever rust needs cutting from the arches. I'm even all up for buying the new reproduction sills if needs be.
I can't remember being so excited about owning a car! I just don't want it to go to downhill before I can get it shored up underneath.

I'm going to jet wash the underside every week in an effort to remove any debris from the road and I have bought all of my detailing stuff to do at the weekend to get some wax on it, no doubt with lots of hot coffee on tap in this temperature!

I know I probably sound a bit over excitable but I'm just really proud of it already!

[happy-kat]

Jet washing well force water into every crevice and being winter won't be warm enough to dry. I'm not sure about doing that, you might want to research some more of the merits of weekly jet washing underneath.

[Oates]

Hi there, i guess you can check via DVLA mot history of the car to find out any other oddities, but to be honest my Thunder has had a good deal of welding to keep her alive, and i have no reason to send her to the puma graveyard. I feel your pain coming from Scotland, but yes i would look after her through the winter and tinker in the spring, hope the winter is not too wet!!!
Cheers.

[Gaz1975]

happy-kat, on 29 November 2016 - 01:54 PM, said:

Jet washing well force water into every crevice and being winter won't be warm enough to dry. I'm not sure about doing that, you might want to research some more of the merits of weekly jet washing underneath.

Yes I see what you mean, I shall do a bit of research. At the moment there appears to be no salt where we are, desperately hoping the temperatures stay up.

I'm taking it to a body shop on Friday who also do Denitrol work. They will give the car an inspection and then I'll go from there.

Thank you for the advice

[Gaz1975]

Oates, on 29 November 2016 - 03:12 PM, said:

Hi there, i guess you can check via DVLA mot history of the car to find out any other oddities, but to be honest my Thunder has had a good deal of welding to keep her alive, and i have no reason to send her to the puma graveyard. I feel your pain coming from Scotland, but yes i would look after her through the winter and tinker in the spring, hope the winter is not too wet!!!
Cheers.

Thank you Oates for the uplifting scenario your Thunder has. Yes I did an MOT history check online and it all tallies with paper documentation.

Bit gutted about needing a car belt change. It was fitted in 2011 but has barely covered a couple of thousand miles since then. Still, if it needs to be done it will get done.

We were going to buy a Citroen C1 for about £3k as my oh needs a car to get to work. But we just couldn't do it, went and saw some and I just couldn't bring myself to part with the money on something so basic and tinny. So now the money we saved we want to put into 'Audrey'

Our X-Trail 'Keith' is in good health so hopefully nothing will surprise us on his MOT!

Enjoying the reading and will no doubt have many questions to ask.

/>

This post has been edited by Gaz1975: 29 November 2016 - 11:20 PM

[Stuvy]

The cam belt is good for piece of mind and it's service history if you ever come to sell it
Get the car hot pressure washed underneath and dried indoors overnight then dinatrol and waxoyl'd it will keep it fresh and young for years
As for the rust they normally go along the sill where the door meets the b post as it seems to hold moisture and road dirt. Just keep it clean and waxed and make sure you wax the headlamps too!