KP's growing amount of Citroens...

[robert_e_smart]

The 2.5 is so forgiving and torquey, you barely need to use that super light clutch, and precise hear shifter

[kingp]

Depends how much time you have on your hands I suppose lol

[kingp]

It's soooo lovely it's why I'm loving it so my hand the c5 has been relegated for another day as the mot runs out on the xm tomorrow so it's getting another day of use until it goes for an mot on Monday

[CitroJim]

It's soooo lovely it's why I'm loving it

Another case of XM Adoration It's very addictive Will...

[kingp]

Well the XM failed on the above today

The fluid ones seem to not be leaks but just where the surface is wet so i have washed them down and got a few litres of petrol to wash them down as well.

The exhaust is just the rear centre to back box clamp is loose and leaking so i just need a new clamp for that (any ideas where to get one as i've only ever got them with an exhaust section??)

Then the steering rack gaitor. This is the big one as i have never done one before

I need to order up the parts tomorrow or at least pick them up as the C5 could well be sold this weekend and i need to stay mobile

In other news the Xantia is back and washed and been looked over. The rear height corrector was just gunked up from being sat on its ass for so long but is now free.

The internal fan however could well be the ignition switch I've put in my better more suited battery and it starts on the button, gets upto temp and holds it and the AC works great as well.
heated seats dont work and the radio wants a code

ABS Sensor needs fitting to it and a small exhaust hole needs sealing on the mid section and she should be MOT ready with no rust and a clean bill of health.
Oh and she needs new front wipers fitting but i have spares of those anyway and a dam good clean inside which i started with after the bodywork wash down
Busy few days methinks with the XM being the critical one!

[kingp]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... ink:top:en

Is this the gaitor i need for the end of the rack and am i right in assuming that i need to take the track rod end off, cut the old one off and slip the new one on with a decent amount of grease inside and then refit the track rod end?

Obviously fighting god knows how many years of rust and crud as well...

[kingp]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-XM-Ex ... 4167ee8737

And is this the exhaust clamp I'd need? Im thinking that if i remove the old one and clean up the surfaces on both pipes then cover them in exhaust gum, clamp up and run the engine that should seal the leak?

The other niggles are the advisories.
The window is a small filled in stone chip
The rear seat belt has a small bit of fluff where something has caught it
The lamps are just XM lamps lol!
NSF movement... Doesnt move with me in it!
Oil leak is the silly catch cup dribbling down its tube still so will run some fairy liquid down that and a drop of petrol to flush it out.
Sill corrosion, well that needs looking at as i couldnt see it
And spare wheel loose. Seemed fine to me but there was a rusty piece of metal that was loose so thats been removed now as i think it was the last surviving piece of the spare wheel tray that wasnt the metal frame.

Fingers crossed i can get the boot on tomorrow once ordered and the exhaust clamp and then try and work something out with the parking brake

[xmexclusive]

That is the wrong steering rack gaiters.
Size is wrong for a 2.5 and any make other than genuine Citroen should be avoided.
The good news is that the failed rack gaiter is the easy one and can be done with a jack on the drive.
The gaiter you need is 4066.42 and Citroen still supply and stock them at somewhere around £8.
You need genuine as they have internal lock rings cast in the gaiter to match the rack grooves.
The pattern parts are smooth and will slip off well before the next MOT.
2.5 track rods and ends are a larger diameter (18mm) than the common or garden XM.
That is why you need the larger hole on the outer end of that gaiter.
Virtually all pattern parts suppliers ignore this size difference and supply the wrong parts.
To fit loosen the track rod end inner lock nut noting how far you rotated it.
This is the only nut and thread you need to undo to do the whole job.
You will find a set of six flats on the inner end of the track rod.
Turn here with a spanner and unscrew the track rod end.
There is just enough play to do this.
Clean up the rod ready for the gaiter.
Boil the kettle and find a deep mug (make tea if you must).
Fill the mug and place the gaiter narrow end down in the mug.
Leave it there for a couple of minutes to soften.
Fit gaiter over track rod and clip the inner end over the rack body.
Drink the tea or throw water away.
Rethread track rod end and wind gently up to lock nut.
Turn lock nut the same rotation back to lock.
The tracking should be unaltered.

John

[kingp]

Thanks John

Will phone the local citro place and see how quick they can get it tomorrow and maybe see about the exhaust clamp from them as well if it's only a few quid.

I really hope I can get this back in for Friday and boxed off as I sorely need to make space and with the xantia back as well if I can let the c5 go and have the xm happy enough to drive to work the xantia can get done in an evening as well and then it can go in for its MOT.

The parking brake still worries me as it sounds like I'm going to have to swap cables for it as I can't find anything to explain how they can be adjusted if at all

[xmexclusive]

The brake cable adjustment is at the caliper end.
There is about 60 mm of thread and a lock nut.
This is usually seized solid on old cables.
If so just find another nut to add as you want to take up slack anyway.
Fulcrum in the exhaust tunnel at the other end of the front cables should be adjusted close to vertical using the lock nuts.
I find it easiest to unbolt the fulcrum bracket as well as the cover (all 10mm) if you need to get at that end.
Lack of reserve travel will usually be one cable gone or just the nipple come adrift.
Poor cable adjustment or lazy parking brake caliper spring can cause that.
Return springs can be fitted to the cable to get over the lazy caliper but they are a pain to fit.
Plenty of new brake cables on ebay (£10ish each) for the long term.
If you go looking for replacement calipers then XM's used 3 different types.

John