Citroen XM Forum

So spurred on from the reliability of my MK1 C5 i decided i needed an XM......

yes i've bought J2 CXM

needs a lot of work.......won't run without a direct connection to the fuel solenoid from the battery

fair few electrical issues to sort as well

massive LHM leak from the front corner, suspect a return pipe

height adjustor is stuck, i suspect something underneath has siezed due to lack of use

here's some photo's of her

That puddle does look right for a return pipe leak...easy job and probably in stock at a Citroen dealer as it fits C5.
The leak may be the hose has split at the top bend, if so trim it back and push onto the metal pipe, while you obtain a pair of new pipes. Do both sides...

The no power to the fuel solenoid is probably the engine loom connector under the Lhm reservoir.
See thread viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10268 for electrical diagrams.

For the height corrector, don't forget to lift the knob to be able to move it to another selection, it's unlikely to be seized up under the car unless it's been parked in long grass.

There is some interesting wiring in the engine bay, I'd look to sort that out sometime to reduce any risk of it shorting out.

The glovebox hinge pin has come adrift, so the hinge has parted. Slide the pin back in.

You can buy new diaphragm and caps for the Perflux filter unit. Darwen diesels stock them, but any diesel specialist should have them.

today i've done a lot of work to it
sorted the LHM leak hopefully by replacing the return pipe

managed to get it started off the key, couldn't find any wiring issues, yet had no power to the relevant pin on the loom connector
so i've bypassed it by wiring a connection to the glow plug relay straight to the solenoid, now starts and stops perfectly

next few days i'm going to tidy up the interior and see how nice i can get it

yes the height corrector lever is siezed solid, that's a job for the weekend when i have more time as i'll have to have the car on 4 jack stands

but it's going extremely well so far, so much so i'm going to book it in for an MOT in around 3 weeks time

A good start (no pun intended), you will soon have this one on the road.

Don't be tempted to get the height selector lever moving by hitting it, the plastic knob will just break off.
If you do need to give the mechanism a tap, remove the plastic knob by drifting out the roll pin holding it on.

Under the car is a rolling pivot to the right of the exhaust resonator, which is possibly seized, alternatively the rod runs in a couple of guides and through a grommet in both the front and rear subframes.
Probably no need to dismantle anything, just grease up and give the rolling pivot a tap to get it started.

While under there grease all the height corrector pivots and bushings.

Simple maintenance takes an Xm from being a crusty old banger to a super smooth mile muncher...with pin-sharp steering, brakes, and active ride...

i've been treating the corroded sills and sealing them today which has gone quite well, got a few more things working....electric arm rest etc

it's really looking like a decent car now

going to get it right up in the air over the weekend and lubricate all the pivot's etc and see if i can get it moving

i've also booked an MOT for the 10th may and i'm actually quite confident

It's good to have a deadline to work to keeps you focussed.

While you are underneath check all testable items; corrosion, pipework, steering and driveshaft joints and gaiters, ball joints.
Don't miss simple stuff like tyres, lights, mirrors and seatbelts.
As it's been sat around you will need to scrub the rust off the brake disks, if light just plenty of brake applications will do it, if heavy use a rotary wire wheel on the disks.

If everything is in good order this weekend can you bring the test forwards...getting it on the road by the w/e 7-8 could be your new target.

corrosion wise it's really quite good, doubt it will need much, if any welding to get through the test

i've decided to leave the test for the 10th, gives me time to get parts and make sure all is well

going to bleed the brakes to be on the safe side too

fixed the suspension height corrector today
extremely siezed height corrector pin above the exhuast, caused me to have to do lots and lots of hammering and use of plusgas

but otherwise, it works well now!

a clip has been weakened, i shall let the MOT garage know so they can replace it during the test

Excellent work.. It makes a real difference in progress when the advisor has been there and the advised is fairly well clued up on things..

Anything like yur c5 it be a lovley car. That's two cheap ones turned into quality this year..

mostly been sorting.....well making safe the electrical system today, got no interior lights.....that can stay for now

the alarm seems to be going off randomly again, need to see if i can unplug something to make it stop for now

otherwise, nothing to really report

MOT in less than a week, which i'm not looking forward to really