2.1 clutch - and other things

[Peter.N.]

Hi all

Have somewhat disabled the green hatch I am now using the white estate for the first time in ernest and it has a few puzzling features that I am wondering if anyone can throw some light on.

Firstly the clutch. It was fitted new shortly before I bought the car but is so light, in comparison with every other 2.1 that I have driven that I thought there was something wrong with it, so light in fact that when I first drove the car the pedal kept staying down. I expected it to slip as soon as I gave it some welly, but it doesn't, in fact its probably one of the smoothest and grippy clutches that I have ever had. Most 2.1 clutches, as those of you who own own will know, need both feet to disengage them, this one is lighter than my wifes ZX which also had a new clutch just before we had it. Has anyone else had this experience and do you know why? I would like to have got in touch with the previous owner to find out where he had it fitted but have unfortunatly lost his phone number.

The second is the ride, it has had new spheres all round of the comfort variety as have the others, but the ride is far superior to any of them and is very quiet, I think this is just lack of rattles, there is a bit of exhaust boom at certain revs but I think this is probably due to the El Cheapo system fitted, why so much diference?

The steering is also lighter than on any of the others in fact the whole car seems nicer to drive, the only fault being (apart from the head gasket, heater matrix and fan) is that the steering pulls slightly to the right for no apparent reason, a problem I can find no logical answer to. Has anyone any thoughts?

Peter

[citroenxm]

Ah peter, the clue is in the RP numbers............. its the newest youve got

Seriously though, we all know that everyones XM is different to the other.. What is the milage details? LHM colour??

AS for the clutch, a brand new one WITH a cable can make it as light as a feather, unless the bushes under the release arm were also changed..

Paul

[Peter.N.]

Hi Paul

Newest one I have now Its done 150k which is the lowest mileage of any of them but not by a lot, the green and black ones are around 190k but the blue one I sold was at around 300k and that drove nicely, apart from the slipping clutch.

The red one had a new clutch when I bought it, in fact it had a new engine, but it was nothing like as light as this one. I have not checked the LHM.

The whole car seems to have been very well maintained, mechanically apart from the interior, I think it had been used as a builders truck. Its certainly very different from the others.

Peter

[onthecut]

Hi Peter.

No particular insight into your specific issues, but I have certainly found the later the date of manufacture, the better the car has seemed to be. Absolutely no two of any of the various ones I've now had have felt the same as another. I would guess though that if all the clutch birs were done, including the cable, it would give a pretty light feel.

Mike.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Mike

No two of mine have been alike but this one is very different, really outstanding, I suppose you could say that it feels like a new car. The last one I sold was newer, although it had about 250k on it when I bought it, that felt much like all the others.
Its nice to know how they should really feel. Will have try and not crash this one.

Peter

[jorgy]

Hi Peter,

my impression of the one I just got is that the clutch is not particularly heavy, it's rather average towards light. On my manual V6 12v in comparison, it "needs both feet", you better not get stuck in morning motorway jams with that.

cheers
George

[Peter.N.]

Hi George

I didn't know the petrol ones suffered fom that problem as well, the only one I have ever driven was an auto, that had a very light clutch Perhaps its just that all mine have been particularly heavy, but when I first tried the white one I thought it was broken!

Peter

[Ciaran]

My 2.1 clutch went from being relatively heavy, to light as a feather after it was changed. Its actually lighter than the 2.0i.

Ciarán

[Peter.N.]

Hi Ciaran

Not as unusual as I thought then, perhaps all of mine have been worn out

Peter

[robert_e_smart]

Peter,

You need a 2.5! Nice hydraulically assisted clutch. Lovely and light.

Robert (who drives a 3 pedal XM most of the time)