Citroen XM Forum

Dieselman wrote: I can't ever recall having had wheels other than black ones and I had a '91 car, similar spec to yours

Mine is a 1990 car, 12 April according to the RP calculator.

Spoke too soon on the FDV. Got the car warmed up today and found LHM dripping steadily out of the front of the car

Unfortunately no time to sort it so she got put back in the garage until Tuesday. I hope that I just need to nip up one of the unions (he said optimistically!).

I will then try to get the height corrector off and give it a good seeing to.

Chris, I am also suspicious of the return pipe connection!!

Rob

Chris, I have ordered a height corrector kit.

I will post a review after Tuesday!!!

Rob

Do we know of anybody who does an FDV refurbishment service?

Pleiades, or Citroen Classics (in Staines) ?
The latter refurbs other valves, so maybe...

Mine is a 1990 car, 12 April according to the RP calculator.

It would have to be very early 1990 car or even a 1989 car to have silver wheels Rob! With regards, Matthew T.

Return pipe on 2.5's is a form of cast plastic with junctions formed in.
Not sure if other XM's are the same.
Once they start splitting they go badly and drop a lot of LHM.
Comes in spurts after the system has pumped up.
As far as I know new replacements are no longer available.
Some of mine give no trouble but on two cars the pipe keeps going in different places.
Good secondhand can be a reasonable option but difficult to recover and worse to fit.
Patch repair is a nightmare.
The internal bore of the cast pipe is 7mm.
If you join with a bit of 6.35 mm pipe (plain or flared) tightening the clip cracks the cast pipe.
With 8mm copper pipe it splits the cast pipe as you push it in.
Even tried gently drilling out the cast pipe but it still split.
A bit of insulation tape around 6.35mm pipe made a temporary fix.
A member on here found me a local source of 7mm OD stainless steel pipe.
The Citroen people at Staines supplied me with 7mm ID rubber hose.
Those bits and good quality full round pipe clips works very well for long lasting repairs.
Check the regulator sphere as well.
A fast pulse rate means rapid pipe fatigue cycles.

John

I will sort the Fdv first. It was s/h but sold as a recently refurbished part from Plaedies. I am hoping the leak is from a pipe union and not one of the top or bottom seals.
The height correctors are not too complex internally once you have got them off! My concern is as John has eluded to, that the return pipe is failing.
I am not sure if the repair kit will be needed but better safe than sorry and I need the car on the road for a local rally next weekend. I also need to do the next fluid change on the autobox to remove the brown gloop pretending to be Dextron 2

I also need to do the next fluid change on the autobox to remove the brown gloop pretending to be Dextron 2

I would strongly recommend that you do that soonish Rob and 2-3 changes are ideally needed with removal of the filter to properly refresh. It will prolong the life of the box and also undoubtedly improve performance! Regards, Matthew T.

Refurbing an FDV is easy. The only awkward bit is getting the C rings for the end caps out of the recesses.

If you can afford to do it, drain the box, put the cap back on and leave it for a day or two and you'll get more out. Longer you leave it, the more will continue to collect in the sump.

Definitely change it if it's brown.... ERGH!