Citroen XM Forum

The great thing about sarcasm is that, when done right, it flies over the head of those who don't get it. The unfortunate part is that it doesn't come across as well in written form.

Just got to find time to take it apart and put it back together

No wonder it seized up, there's no sump on it.

If you want much improved access when refitting it, remove the nose section. Eight bolts, disconnect the earth leads, one connector and the whole module, including the radiator, lifts off the front.
Bolts are; four in the upper corners of the plastic radiator support into the inner wings, two allen headed ones underneath into the subframe, two in the wheel-arches into the bumper trailing edge brackets.

Dieselman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 6:55 am

No wonder it seized up, there's no sump on it.

If you want much improved access when refitting it, remove the nose section. Eight bolts, disconnect the earth leads, one connector and the whole module, including the radiator, lifts off the front.
Bolts are; four in the upper corners of the plastic radiator support into the inner wings, two allen headed ones underneath into the subframe, two in the wheel-arches into the bumper trailing edge brackets.

Subject to nothing siezing. Wing bolts love. To do this and I've had the bottom ones sieze too..

Dieselman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 6:55 am

No wonder it seized up, there's no sump on it.

It's to allow me to jet wash the engine inside. These new clean burn engines need all the help they can get

Dieselman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 6:55 am

If you want much improved access when refitting it, remove the nose section. Eight bolts, disconnect the earth leads, one connector and the whole module, including the radiator, lifts off the front.
Bolts are; four in the upper corners of the plastic radiator support into the inner wings, two allen headed ones underneath into the subframe, two in the wheel-arches into the bumper trailing edge brackets.

Ah yes removing the nose section! The nuts for the earth leads came off easy but the connectors were seized to the stud! Two of the four studs holding the lights were spinning due to the rear holder being seized to the stud. The two Allen screws underneath had to be cut off as the connectors inside had come free, and as for the ones holding the bumper to the wing - non-existent. They'd been welded together, but not just tacked NO, Mr Welder Man must have had a bulk order of rods to get through as there was so much weld you couldn't tell where the wing support ended and the bumper brackets began! And the big black electrical connector won't separate so the front is laying at the front of the car.

The saving grace is that, although the subframe looks rough and past it's sell by, it's purely surface rust and will come up good. In fact the subframe in the wheel arches looks worse than the bit under the radiator.

Doesn't look past its date at all.. Looks amazing to me seen a lot worse on cars.. Inc my own past cars.

That subframe looks fine to me also.

While performing a major task is the time to find and deal with all those seized fasteners and connectors, it will really help you later on.

At least you haven't resorted to using the rope, yet.

Rust is the enemy of all old machinery, the ultimate remedy being replacing with new. When that option's not available 'make do and mend' is.

The subframe's solid but needs work, the hubs have gone to be vapour blasted and galvanised, the wing supports will need fabricating but I do have a pair of very good bumper brackets. All the fasteners will be replaced with new, it's just going to take more time than I planned.