Rob's SED Now V6 Exclusive

[ragger]

Checked on the earths and connections on the off-side rear lights and while everything appeared clean and tight, a tweak with a spanner and a spray of WD has made the problem go away!

Many thanks for your help Chris, they were good jobs done and I learnt stuff that will help in the future. I have today topped up the ATF and checked the other levels and I also got the right hand matrix working again, the buttons are recessed a long way into the dash.

I had completely forgotten about using the Lexia until I was fiddling about today, it would be interesting to see what it has to say at some point but there is no urgency.

Rob

[captainhaddock]

Driving a 2cv Club, you don't need the likes of lexia's. Getting lazy as well as regards with topping up the petrol. Used my 2cv club since years and years, but had to go to fill the tank every day. Good to see you've got it sorted.

[ragger]

Progress continues in the improvement of the XM!

Ever since I bought the car I have been concerned about the noisiness of it on start-up; the noise was clearly coming from the area of the auxiliary belts and pumps etc. Having had one of my local specialists fail to get back in touch with me after going thrpugh to let him have a listen, I took it to the other (who is actually a little closer, but I suspect more expensive). The upshot is two belts replaced and tensions sorted and a dramatic reduction in noise. I look forward to seeing if it has carried through to a really cold start in the morning. I also suspect that the vibration felt on tickover when in drive has been reduced, which would be another upside. It seems unlikely to me that he repair would have had that effect but heyho!

Mechanically, the only maintenance job to complete before it gets really cold is a coolant change. I haven't consulted the book of lies yet, but I am hoping that it will be straightforward enough for me to do myself. Oh, and then there are the noisy wipers still to tackle - again. Squirting the linkages with WD40 and then copper grease has not had sufficient effect, so I suspect that a replacement motor and a complete strip down may be required. Anyone got a good wiper motor at low cost?

Rob

[CitroJim]

Excellent stuff Rob I know all about 2.1 auxiliary belt noise when cold from my days of running a 2.1TD Xantia. It drove me mad until I replaced the tensioner and adjusted the manual part of it that applies pre-load to the automatic part of it properly. If the garage has sorted it then they're good...

The coolant change is easy enough if...

Your radiator has a drain cock and...

It's not broken as mine is...

If it is then the only way to drain is to pull the bottom hose off and it's easiest usually to pull it off at the engine end rather than the rad end.

The drain cock will be on the LH bottom of the rad as you look down on it in the engine bay. Normally you can get at it from underneath and attach a drain tube to it. If the cock seems to be intact then go very carefully with it - they're delicate!

Same with bleeders. I'm not sure what you have on the 2.1 but I'd expect a bleed screw in the heater matrix feed hose and what looks like a tyre valve cap on the top hose union on the engine. On my TCT it pretty much self-bled and only needed the heater matrix hose bleeder opening up until nice new coolant flowed out of it. Leave the expansion tank cap off whilst warming up after a coolant change and leave it off for as long as possible on the first cooldown so that any remaining entrained air can dissipate. Expect to need to top up the coolant a little after a day or so following the final bits of air being bled...

[robert_e_smart]

Wiper noise will be the linkages or blades. Unlikely that its the motor. You need to remove the whole mechanism and strip the spindles the wiper arms connect to and grease with copper grease. Not difficult, just a bit fiddly to remove.

If you have a lot of wiper slap the above pivots are too worn and you are best to source a good replacement.

[ragger]

Thanks for the comments, chaps!

If it's dry and not too cold I will have a look for the cocks and bleeders tomorrow and then decide how to proceed!

The wiper noise is definitely not from the blades. I have been in under the scuttle trim and the noise seems to be coming from the back (underside) of the motor. I'm really not too sure where to start and how far to go in dismantling - I find it very embarrassing to start a job and then have to send for help part way through!

Rob

[ragger]

What a difference it has made having the belts and tensioners sorted properly! No extraneous noises today (both cold and damp) on start-up and the vibration I was getting on tickover in D is now noticeably less. Very pleased.

Regarding a new aerial, GSF can supply one at £28 which seems excessive to me when there are other similar roof mounted aerials available for about a third of the price. Does anyone happen to know the diameter of the opening, there seems to be two sizes available at 10 and 12 mm?

Rob

[CitroJim]

That's great news Rob

Did you look at changing the coolant?

[robert_e_smart]

New aerials are around a tenner from Citroen.

[ragger]

I didn't get to look at the coolant situation - cricket (watching) and dog walking took up the morning and then unemployed graduate daughter wanted money spending on her in the afternoon...

Looks like I shall try talking to my local stealer Evans Halshaw on Monday about aerials. When I called there in my 2CV the other week to get a sump plug washer I caused quite a stir; I overheard the mechanics - sorry "technicians" - talking about it and the parts guy came out for a guided tour.

There really aren't many old Citroens in the Darlington area. I have one XM, I think Chris still has his estate (and that's some way away in Hartlepool) and Jim now has the only other one that I had seen in the last couple of years. As for 2CVs, again Chris and his Dad have a Beachcomber and I have seen one other in the last year. Since I sold my BX about four years ago I haven't seen another outside of the Harrogate and Wetherby shows, nor have I seen a CX. Even Xantiae are getting scarce.

Rob

Rob