Citroen XM Forum

That subframe and pipework are in nice condition, ours are usually showing signs of corrosion.

For the timing belt, it's a good system, with the self setting belt tensioner, you just have to remove the engine mount block...which is a bit fiddly with the engine in the car.

Fitting new steering rack gaiters is very easy if the rack is out of the car, just remove the drivers side track rod, then the power ram and pinion valve as one item, then push the rack out of the housing.
No need to remove the passenger side track rod, or inner ball joint boot.

The almost rust free underside is one of the reasons we are saving this car
There was some minor rust in the subframe which we treated and gave a lick of paint.
A lot of time was spent vacuuming up dirt and debris and cleaning

Further south in Sweden where I grew up ther is a lot of salt on the road in the winter.
A lot of XMs and Xantias have been scrapped due to rust down there.

citroenguy wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Further south in Sweden where I grew up ther is a lot of salt on the road in the winter.

Southern Softies can't drive in a bit of snow...reminds me of the Uk...

Did a few small jobs on it last weekend, found out why it was leaking coolant and changed the PCV hose on the front of the engine.
(old one had been repaired before see pic)


It were missing a clamp and a bolt for the coolant pipes on the themostat/water pump housing (threads into the threaded hole between the pipes)
PCV hose seem to be the same as on XUD9 There is quite a list still:
Track rod end right side
Front brakes and parking brake cables
Rear brakes
Filling or replacing the rest of the spheres (i had some new front wheel spheres, hydractive)
Gauge cluster bulbs
Putting the new tyres on the rims
Correct set of S2 headlights
fixing the front bumper

citroenguy wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 8:42 pm Did a few small jobs on it last weekend, found out why it was leaking coolant and changed the PCV hose on the front of the engine.
(old one had been repaired before see pic)


It were missing a clamp and a bolt for the coolant pipes on the themostat/water pump housing (threads into the threaded hole between the pipes)

PXL_20250316_153817112.jpg

I think I know the one you mean, the clamp is a U shape round the swage in the metal coolant pipe and pulls the pipe and O ring into the thermostat housing.

That's a strange part to be missing, if someone had the pipe out and back in, where did the clamp go...

Your jobs list is pretty short really, you will soon be through it.

Yeah I didn't notice it because the pipe was removed many years ago, and I didn't remove the other one from the old engine..
But I could take the clamp from the old engine.
Will be interesting to see how the cylinders look on the failed engine.

Did a few more jobs yesterday.

I "eyeballed" the front alignment and came to the conclusion that we got the steering a quarter turn off when we refitted the column. Ah well..

Then i checked the accumulator sphere and the rear wheel spheres. The acc sphere was punctured and the rear ones were low, 15 bar.
Drove to the local Sphere guru who i know well, and got a used accumulator and the others regassed

So only Hydroactive spheres and the anti-sink SC.MAC sphere left

When i anyways had the system depressurised i changed the front brake hoses.

I work at an old Citroën dealer, so i got hold of this original sphere tester My friends sphere regassing station:

Ruptured and flat spheres on a Citroen...no way...

Out of curiosity, how does your Friends re-gassing rig grip the plug on the sphere and I assume the additional pipework to the front is a pressure bleed.

Dieselman wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 10:07 am Ruptured and flat spheres on a Citroen...no way...

Out of curiosity, how does your Friends re-gassing rig grip the plug on the sphere and I assume the additional pipework to the front is a pressure bleed.

He has a sort of nipple that goes onto the plug and grips with "set screws" before inserting into the rig.

Yeah, an overhaul of the hydraulic system is almost always needed when a hydro Citroën has been sitting for a long time. Or has been with owners or mechanics who doesn't know them..