NTOC Unsertain future?

[renault760]

Here are a couple of pics of a rather sorry looking 2.1. I've told the story over on intros and will continue any further developements here.





And the even sadder Renault that I need to get out. It's gonna cost me!



Watch this space, (but please don't hold your breath!)

LG.

PS For some reason none of the pics have loaded onto the site correctly. They have all been cropped on the RH side. Must be too big I guess, (but when I click on "full editor they appear correctly.)

[White Exec]

If you tap the 'cropped' photo in a post, it opens full-view in a new window (on iPad, anyway).

You're right, Citroens (especially fluid ones) don't thrive when left to stand, nor when parked up somewhere grassy. Not helped by frequent lack any underbody wax protection.

[Dieselman]

Putting it on blocks will have saved that car.

[White Exec]

Hopefully. I appreciate that we all have limited options for storing a car, but the pictures above show both cars in a damp, mossy and wind-protected corner.

If a car is to be parked up for a long time, it is essential that the ground under it is dry (or can readily dry out), and that there is no vegetation under there. Airflow essential. If there's little choice about such storage, then important that the car is lifted to a significant height above the ground (at least 40cm under the tyres) to allow air circulation. Some underbody protective wax goes without saying.

Have seen too many cases of underside rot where persistent damp has taken its inevitable toll. Citroen pipework is especially vulnerable.

[renault760]

I know, you're right. You would think that there would have been plenty of air flow as it always seems to windy as hell up here but yes, moss does seem to like it, despite the wind tunnel effect of the drive.

Anyway, I've just had tentative poke around the sill areas. first one was the N/S/R, and it wasn't good;



It's like that for about 18" untill the sill feels solid again.

N/S/F;



Doesn't feel spongy, sounds quite solid when rapped with knuckles. Didn't feel too flakey further back either.

O/S/F;



Again not spongy, solid sound. The crap you can see is curtesy of my nice neigbhour. To him it's just scrap car "that he wants moving, NOW!" He sweeps his stinking crap under and, as you can see, onto the car. When I asked him where he would sweep his dirt if the car did go I got told to "F OFF"

O/S/R;



As above. Not spongy, solid sound. I then took a couple looking forward;





Don't know if anyone can discern anything of note or interest there. Finally the depressing nose;





Now that area does get a bit nettly in the summer and I'm not sure if my neighbour gave it a helping hand. Anyone had a bumper fall off before? Repairable? It needs to go up on a hoist really but simply moving it will be difficult with it's leak and presumably seized brakes.

I guess the next thing is to try and get the wheels turning.

Cheers, LG.

[raynoon]

Looks like just the front bumper cross member has completely rusted away. Id be on the look out for another. I’ve replaced 3 now

[renault760]

Hiya Ray, hope you're well. Front bumper cross member? When you say keep a look out for one, are you talking scrappies or the likes of Ebay? Are there any useful suppliers of new panels? Can you still get them from Citroen?

Cheers, LG.

[citroenxm]

Nope... nothing from citroen now... its a case of keeping an eye out for them from a scrapper... but choose carefully. S2 ones rot much worse then S1 ones... and they are different due to different front bumper profiles..

[White Exec]

Has anyone managed to fabricate the cross-member, rather than fit a scrapped item?

[raynoon]

Cross members can be saved with regular maintenance. If they’re in good condition keep them rust proofed and well painted.

You’ll have to look for someone breaking an XM, as citroenxm says series 1 and series 2 are different.

The cross member protects your radiator and other vulnerable things at the front of the car.