Citroen XM Forum

ragger wrote: . . . before I can take my Mum home to try and live life without her partner of the last 67 years.

That's not going to be easy, Rob, you're going to have to keep a close eye on her. My mum lost her partner in the summer after a long illness and she's like a lost sole.

It's never easy to lose someone at this time of year but it may be a blessing in disguise that he died with you at home. If he had died down in Stroud that would have been a long drive down wondering about your Dad and the state of your Mum.

They look after you when you're little, you look after them when they're old.

They look after you when you're little, you look after them when they're old.

That's very true and the way it should be.

Thank you for the kind thoughts.

The XM has grown increasingly reluctant to fire up after a period of inactivity over the last few months and so I invested ion a new set of glow plugs (NGK) for her just before Christmas, however, it seems to have had no effect at all. The batteryt is well charged and turns the motor over ok. I replaced the negative earth connection last summer. When warm it starts fine.

Where should I look next?

Can ONLY be Fuel Drain Back then Rob.

Remove the inlet manifold again, (4x bolts) and check and waggle and bend all the leak off pipes and return pipes and check for and cracks or leaks.

It can only be Lack of Fuel in the pump and injectors for it not to be starting Rob.

Renew any brittle pipes!

Have you got a purflux fuel filter Rob? If so it might be drawing in air. Happened to mine, it was a bugger to start then wouldn't at all.
But a huge tell tail sign was fuel and air gurgling back into the fuel tank.

Bet Paul is right though....

Russ.. yes .. fuel filter head.. They have a habit of going pourus the result. More air then fuel in the fuel lines oh and ALSO is your fuel heater on the end of the head still in the fuel circuit? If it is Rob. Take it out.. ie take pipes off the heater and join them. The heaters also have a habit of letting air in..

Thanks for the advice chaps. Unfortunately, my mechanical knowledge and understanding are both very limited, so it will be off to an independent in a week or so. I was hoping to use it to go and visit Mum for a few days starting tomorrow, but it has now reached the point where I can't trust it to fire up every time so it will have to be the Multipla again which is a disappointment. 600 mile round trips are best done in an XM!

Just as frustrating is the fact that some "git" has has caught and slightly deformed the passenger side rear wheel arch. There isn't much paint marking and the bumper scuff has come out. It is very slight but now I know it is there I shall fret about it.

It's not been a good week for all sorts of reasons, I holpe the next one will be better.

Started the XM today after it was stood for several days. Primed the pump before hand until the bulb went hard. Still slow to fire and seemed to be producing some smoke from the manifold area - couldn't be sure as I was the one turning the key.

Further thoughts before I hand it over to the garage?

Fit a piece of clear pipe or a clear fuel filter just before the injection pump to check for air ingress at the filter.

Been having some cold starting issues that I expected to be resolved by the fitting of new glowplugs, but wasn't. Fixed now as a result of bypassing the fuel heater to remove extraneous air ingress. Not only does it now start better but it also seems to have slightly improved smoothness and possibly performance. Perhaps I'm just feeling charitable!

While I was at the independent, he asked if a front sidelight lens would be of use to me as some time ago a customer had ordered one from him but had never collected. My eyes lit up knowing their rarity, and I may have done a little dance on opening the still sealed box to find it was for the driver's side (the near side having been replaced some time before and still looking good). A very reasonable amount of cash changed hands and I left happy despite the expensive labour charge for the other work.



Anyone would think it was my birthday!