Citroen XM Forum

I know what you must feel like Dean.

Just when I feel I'm winning the fight to get my '93 TCT 2.0i sorted over issues for it's next MOT
and faffing about with the exhaust for it I've run into an intermittent erratic running problem...

now there could be a few influencing factors but I'll first run through the symptoms!!

Since Wednesday last week the car has been cutting out on the overrun/low revs and has been
difficult or plain refusing to start. It seems to start OK from cold but once running on a journey
will 'miss' a little and then cut out altogether a short while later so I initially thought the
issue to be temperature related. I had this scenario tonight and after flattening the original
battery called in help with a fresh battery though this still didn't make much difference.

I tried undoing a spark plug (bone dry) on a HT lead to see if it sparked and whilst at first it
didn't show any life, the car actually tried to fire on the second churn so I got it together and
got the engine running and tried driving the car which died again less than a mile further...

There appeared to be pressure on the main fuel feed onto the petrol injector rail and in fact
a tug of the hose elicited a tiny pressurised dribble of fuel as the fitted from new by Citroen
hose clip clearly has some 'give' or the feed pressure is too high... Not clever! There's
always been an audible buzzing from the fuel pump when it's being churned over on the
starter though a dry plug and no spark has me thinking ECU or fuel relay?

A second attempt to get it running got no signs of life so I got a fixed length metal tow bar to
get the car moved 3 miles home which surprisingly actually got the car running immediately
afterbringing the clutch in whilst being towed and letting in 3rd! I wanted to get some engine
tuning for the pump to power brakes and suspension.

Right so - on getting the car home where it missed once on the way (I managed to bump start
it!) it now runs happily static and restarts no problem but I'm loath to take the car out on the
road again for a rerun of this evening's hassles! Basically I just don't trust it atm.

Ok clutching at straws all this but I've tried to retrace any influencing factors this past week
that have seen one of my most reliable cars turn to one that's a take or leave it one now.

The offside wing mounted expansion bottle split along it's mid moulding point after a growing
water leak so to gain access to remove and replace it I initially swung the x3 ECU's out of their
box but didn't actually disconnect them - as it turns out I could just get the single bolt undone
with a bit of dexterity. First thought is I've disturbed a significant sensor feed etc but why work
some of the time and then cut out seemingly randomly?

Mind, I've been here before with a Cx and my 24v v6 Xm so Citroen wiring isn't the best.

I wondered about wiring loom stretch where it runs onto the engine where there is movement
due to changes in torque but cannot see a regular pattern to cause the symptoms I'm suffering
with here.

Whilst undoing the water feeds to the expansion bottle a splash of water found it's way
onto the alternator so I've even considered that I've managed to bugger that up with
fluctuating power problems but as mentioned a fresh battery isn't a guarantee of starting.
I did take a multimeter reading off the battery, ignition off static and get 12.64 volts which
rises to 14.1 tops which isn't as high as the 14.95 on another Cx nearby. Whilst not high I feel
these figures sound OK?

BTW, the car has a 1/3rd of a tank of fuel. Were the sender intermittent in it's operation
(I've been here with a Xantia before too) I do always get the loud buzz when turning the
starter over so cannot believe fuel feed would be a problem - injector triggering by the
ECU is more a question mark though.

there is no immobiliser keypad although there is something fitted as there is the Cit-fit small
red light and switch on the centre dash and a beeping of some kind from a computer after
the ignition is switched off - never heard on any other Xm before!

The car is a manual gearbox car so no auto inhibitor switch.

Anyone able to offer suggestions on what I need to test!? BTW, I detest auto electrics!
Am I missing something obvious!!!???

Andrew

You have been messing around under the bonnet..... The heap of junk here refuses to start whenever I touch the wiring infront of the battery. There is a starter relay there, if you bump it the starter refuses to work (yes I have tried cleaning the contacts). Pull all the relays and plugs apart, you will probably find them full of corosion. The only real fix is replacement. Cleaing them *may* work though, so give it a shot

So wherever you have had to work on it ..... and bumped wiring, check all the connectors and plugs in that area.

seeya,
Shane L.

Missed this Andrew!
My guess's would be in order, relavent plugs and relays
The ignition amplifier, bump starting could have left enough spare amps to give an ailing amplifier the help it needs to get going
Do you have a fault code reader for the TCT Andrew? if she is an early one with the two pin diagnostics socket they can be had for £10 but if its none of the above it may well be worth a go, might have a lambda control issue, these usualy affect the car just as it reaches normal operating temp and can cause the car to cut out and then be VERY difficult to restart with caughing and missing................worth a check, ive had it on two 2L now.

GOOD LUCK

D

What's a spark plug?

It could well be a bad connection but also check for a good fat spark as the coil could be failing, also check for intake air leaks as the stalling after over-run makes that sound possible.
Also check the fuel pump relay as that cuts on over-run and comes back on at 1,000rpm, but could not be coming back on.