Citroen XM Forum

Can you clarify whether the failure to proceed was immediately following the bang, or following the first subsequent stop?

The car went bang and then I realised I still had some drive although my speed was slowly decreasing.
I limped to the next sliproad where it stopped, I tried selecting any gear, but none left.

I am still happy to help Tallboy if you can let me have your contact details. With regards, Matthew T.

Tallboy wrote:The car went bang and then I realised I still had some drive although my speed was slowly decreasing.
I limped to the next sliproad where it stopped, I tried selecting any gear, but none left.

That sounds a bit like my E-type (see avatar) which went bang while accelerating off a slip road onto a motorway. It drove normally for about 5 miles on the motorway, then at the roundabout after exiting, the transmission was definitely slipping, but it kept going for another couple of miles before I got to an urban street where I had to slow down, and then it lost drive completely. In retrospect it kept working while the TC sprag clutch was freewheeling, but died as soon as the engine RPM dropped to the point where the torque converter (should have) started working.

The fault in that case was a sheared stator support shaft, which is the stationary shaft that takes the torque reaction from the TC stator.

What version of car is it? if it's a Series 1 it may be worth fixing, if a Series 2 then probably not.

If it's rusty to the point of needing a lot of welding, break it down quickly and dispose of the left overs.
What colour is it and what condition are the body panels in?

Thanks for your help everyone, I am going to visit the car tomorrow with MTXM, have a look over it and decide if I should proceed or not.
I have to say it is heartening how a group of people I have never met before can all be so helpful.

It's something to do with Andre Citroen, and green blood in the veins . . .
Good luck with the inspection.

You’re in safe hands with Matthew,

Unless you happen to be made of glass! (Sorry Mathew, couldn't resist)

LG.

Ok...
Today Mathew came and picked me up and we visited the garage and had a play about with XM.
The rust issues are not enough to worry about for the time being, which is a relief.
Mathew drained the oil and the magnetic plate had a lot of filings on it, although there were no major lumps of metal in the oil itself, just particles.
Because of budgetary constraints and also the fact that the garage proprietor needs the car moved sooner rather than later I need it the car up and running fairly soon.
So my plan is to have a secondhand gearbox fitted and then as soon as I can, get the original gearbox fixed.
All I need is a gearbox...

Wanted 4hp18 gearbox.
If anyone can help I would be so grateful.

A big thanks to Mathew who didn't seem to mind scrapping about in gravel and mud and drizzle and who even took the battery off his own car to get mine started.
A true Gentleman.