End of the Long Sleep
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:47 pm
Started the process to return an early (1994) 2.5 Exclusive to the road.
BOK has been dry stored for about 12 years.
Originally there was a stalling problem that a Citroen dealer found difficult to pin down.
A rather expensive new injector pump without certainty of success was the diagnoses.
So they offered a top end C5 at a reduced price.
BOK was well loved so put in the garage for repair later while the C5 lived on the drive.
Time has come to try to sort the problem and see what else happens from long term storage.
The initial assessment required a bit of air in the tyres, spare battery and some minor work on fuel supply.
Under the bonnet there was clear evidence that the car had been seen to by an XM specialist.
Quite a bit to sort and also things to return to original.
Once running it was clear that the suspension understood what was required of it and tried hard but fell a bit short.
The rust hunt then started with the strut heads.
Plenty of peeled rubber on the tops but only surface rust on the cone and no splits in the main rubber.
Spares to find to send to KINGas for rebuilding but not a critical job for the present.
The dropped gaiter was put back in place and the heads treated with rust converter.
Rule of thumb guide: If you cannot get the gaiter to stay in place the strut head has a serious problem and the bonnet is at risk.
Then the underside of the car was examined and condition recorded.
The mud flaps were removed for binning and the trapped mud shovelled out.
All seemed well with the body structure with most underseal still sounds.
The lifting points were straightened then all the reachable surface rust treated.
While the sills were sound there was paint spalling and surface rusting just below the front passenger door.
This was cleaned and protected.
Spare wheel carrier needed new hanger bolt and a usable wheel/tyre fitted.
Condition of the carrier left much to be desired but can wait till later as the wheel is held firm now.
So a couple of days ago BOK went for MOT.
BOK has been dry stored for about 12 years.
Originally there was a stalling problem that a Citroen dealer found difficult to pin down.
A rather expensive new injector pump without certainty of success was the diagnoses.
So they offered a top end C5 at a reduced price.
BOK was well loved so put in the garage for repair later while the C5 lived on the drive.
Time has come to try to sort the problem and see what else happens from long term storage.
The initial assessment required a bit of air in the tyres, spare battery and some minor work on fuel supply.
Under the bonnet there was clear evidence that the car had been seen to by an XM specialist.
Quite a bit to sort and also things to return to original.
Once running it was clear that the suspension understood what was required of it and tried hard but fell a bit short.
The rust hunt then started with the strut heads.
Plenty of peeled rubber on the tops but only surface rust on the cone and no splits in the main rubber.
Spares to find to send to KINGas for rebuilding but not a critical job for the present.
The dropped gaiter was put back in place and the heads treated with rust converter.
Rule of thumb guide: If you cannot get the gaiter to stay in place the strut head has a serious problem and the bonnet is at risk.
Then the underside of the car was examined and condition recorded.
The mud flaps were removed for binning and the trapped mud shovelled out.
All seemed well with the body structure with most underseal still sounds.
The lifting points were straightened then all the reachable surface rust treated.
While the sills were sound there was paint spalling and surface rusting just below the front passenger door.
This was cleaned and protected.
Spare wheel carrier needed new hanger bolt and a usable wheel/tyre fitted.
Condition of the carrier left much to be desired but can wait till later as the wheel is held firm now.
So a couple of days ago BOK went for MOT.