Citroen XM Forum

Hi,

My dad's old Citroen, garaged for several decades, emergency brake is seized on and the engine doesn't turn over, possibly seized solid. Is there a low profile jack capable of operation in a tight space to raise the vehicle enough to slide dollies under the wheels and move it? Thanks in anticipation.

Mark.

If the garage has been even slightly dry I would be surprised if the engine was internally corroded, to the point of being unable to be recovered. One member had theirs stored for 22 years and after a bit of fettling and a new starter motor, it started.

For the brakes, release the park brake and give the disks a clout with a heavy hammer, which should free off the binding. Is the car Rhd, or Lhd? If R/h the bell crank in the scuttle will probably be seized, holding the main brakes full on, once the pedal is pressed.

Where is the car, is this a post asking for assistance, or are you looking to dispose of the car?

Hi Dieselman.

Thanks for getting back to me and for valued advice. The vehicle is RhD, in Essex, England SS8 with 68167 miles on the clock. I had wanted to restore the car but am starting to see that as a non achievable notion - I can't get to the widowmaker jack as there seems insufficient ground clearance to slide the spare tyre out of it's cage. 2 of the wheels are inaccessible as it's parked tightly against a wall. It looks a bit of a state, the cassette player is presently missing with a heap of stuff piled up on the roof. The engine last ran about 12 or 15 years ago but fuel had to be poured into the carb to make it run, so I guess the fuel pump is shot. What assistance might you offer at what price and/or are you interested in restoring the vehicle?

Mark.

I am not sure if you are familiar with XMs, but just in case you didn't know, the parking brake is released by pulling the knob on the dashboard below the drivers-side dash vent. If the parking brake pedal is still tight after pulling the release, then there may be a problem with the release cable inside the car.

There seems to be a typo in your posts, as there never was a 3.0 XM with a carburettor, can you give a bit more detail of the car? What year is it?

If the tyres are pumped up, you should be able to get a jack under it, but be careful, as the jacking points may rusted and very weak. Jacking under the front subframe is safer until you have checked the condition of the floor structure.

xantia_v6 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:16 pm

I am not sure if you are familiar with XMs, but just in case you didn't know, the parking brake is released by pulling the knob on the dashboard below the drivers-side dash vent. If the parking brake pedal is still tight after pulling the release, then there may be a problem with the release cable inside the car.

There seems to be a typo in your posts, as there never was a 3.0 XM with a carburettor, can you give a bit more detail of the car? What year is it?

If the tyres are pumped up, you should be able to get a jack under it, but be careful, as the jacking points may rusted and very weak. Jacking under the front subframe is safer until you have checked the condition of the floor structure.

Thanks for wading in, xantia_v6

You're doubtless correct, pouring petrol happened more than a decade ago - probably what I actually did was spray Bradex into the air intake as that requires less wherewithal than removing the air cleaner. Two tyres are inflated, the two nearest the wall are inaccessible and are less than fully inflated. I have a condition that makes me foggy of thought and my recollections are a bit hit and miss at the best of times. Thanks for your interest and help, it is appreciated.

Mark.

Have you checked your PM's on this forum?

Hi Dieselman..

Just trying to work out how to read PM's and should then be with you..

Mark.

Hi Dieselman,

A PM should now be with you..

regards,
Mark.

Is the car still in location, if it is here is an alternative way well 2 ways you can try out, first one is to use the leaver lifting, use plank or steel pipe that will fit under the car, and then underneath the pipe or plank block it up as close as you can to the car, and push down, use blocks of wood to put under the front end of the car, keep repeating till you are able to get a trolley jack under.
Or use an electric drill, to rotate the LMH pump, use a belt around the pump and drill, make sure that you are turning the pump in the right direction

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement parking brake release cable - or even one made up, please?? That's the cable from the release pull under the dash to the mech in the footwell. It's a 90 2.0L
Thanks