Labour exchange.....

[Vince]

Well, Ive been thinking over my approach to things with the xm this morning.....Im going to buy a haynes manual for it and im going to have to do these jobs myself

As most will know, i hate mechanical jobs like these, but i had a good look under the xm this morning and i have some more rustproofing to do around the rear subframe area aswell, so i might aswell draw up a list, buy a new trolley jack and another pair of axle stands and just get things done myself

A wierd thing with the tensioner noise.....this morning i started the xm (been parked all week) and took it for a good run to get it nice and warmed up and loosened up, and the tensioner area is as quiet as a mouse .

Im going to shelve the tensioner worry for now until it gets consistently noisy and put this thread down to paranoia.

I did notice the inside edge of my passenger side tyre is going bald though Ill have to get that done this week

[CitroJim]

Well, Ive been thinking over my approach to things with the xm this morning.....Im going to buy a haynes manual for it and im going to have to do these jobs myself

Good stuff Vince

May I make a recommendation that you do the jobs yourself but under the supervision of an experienced person such as Paul. Then if it all looks like it could unravel you have skilled assistance to hand and also that skilled mentor can teach you the best way to do a job..

I do that on many occasions for Xantia owners. I don't do the jobs now, just guide and provide facilities.

[russ92xmsed]

That is a great idea Jim.....what i need for the tougher stuff.

Vince, my tensioner or something to do with the belts is noisy if I haven't driven it for a bit.....but soon is quiet as a mouse once it has been used. I'm talking a week or more too.
I will say one thing, the Haynes is useful to have, but it isn't totally comprehensive as they once were...a known fact I suppose. On some things they almost assume you know what your doing and leave you in the lurch, or miss things out. Something I noticed when doing the brakes a little while ago. But it certainly is better than nothing.

I write all over mine making notes to remind me for the future. Best of luck though, very satisfying when you have done it yourself.

[Vince]

Thanks guys....i think ill speak to Paul in a few weeks as i know he is mad busy at the moment and arrange a trip over. I want to be able to do these jobs, even though im much happier making cars look nicer

I did the strut return hose the other day, and thats mechanical for me . I must say, i dont get the proud feeling of "i did that" when i do mechanical work, but i do get it when i think "well thats saved me a few quid" I suppose that needs to be my motivator when im summoning up the energy to get jobs done.

Believe it or not there was once a time when i was as happy as the proverbial pig in......, to be up to my elbows in spanners and seized bolts.....Ive just moved directions towards paintwork now

It reminds me of a holiday i took over to my uncle's in Madrid a few years ago. He had a Merc 190 which a local garage had repaired the exhaust rear section and done a shocking job, it kept banging over bumps and on inspection they had frankensteined up the rear hangers as the brackets had rotten away. My uncle not knowing anything about cars was arguing with them to fix it and they were like "new parts from Mercedes xyz" so I said to my uncle, listen ill fix it for you, so off to the local scrap yard we went, the closest thing i could find to mercedes hangers were off a saab 900 so i bagged a couple of bits, then visited the local hardware shop, bought some nuts and bolts and a big u clamp and with the aid of some basic tools fashioned a new hanger and rubbers for him.,,,job done. It lasted years too

Not sure if i would have been so enthused nowadays though Id take a machine to it all day though in a heartbeat

[Dieselman]

Interesting POV, Vince.

I like repairing things but can't really stand bodywork or polishing.

[messerschmitt owner]

I'd happily hold a session at my house on Xm repair and maintenance.

[citroenxm]

8 cars to go, and a fair distance...

No one around here wants to offer things like that.. My only choice is to buy a Gazeebo and set it up when its wet....

[Dieselman]

8 cars to go, and a fair distance...

The distance really doesn't help, but also, I'm not really fit enough yet. Had a few problems today when bending down and looking upwards.

I've only been back onto doing cars at all the last month.

[russ92xmsed]

I'd happily hold a session at my house on Xm repair and maintenance.

That could be incredibly invaluable Campbell.

[CitroJim]

Interesting POV, Vince.

I like repairing things but can't really stand bodywork or polishing.

Exactly me... I'd like to but just have no talent for it whatsoever...