Citroen XM Forum

Little devils Russ That's really annoying in the extreme...

What are you fixing on the instruments?

I know Jim...I am very much hoping they haven't damaged the spindle. I cannot get the thing to sit on the windscreen now. The arm is all bent and screwed up.

Anyway, yes instruments...I managed to get a new temp, fuel gauage and oil level dial set from the bay. It also had a good LCD auto display. So I wanted to check all the needles and general condition of it all and swap the the dials over. In the end I have only changed the LCD display. So hopefully it will be better than the old one. It's not in the car yet, still on the kitchen table. Having a restorative cuppa first!
I'm not sure if anyone will know this, but how slack should the speedo needle be. I only ask as mine flickers quite bit...I put this down to the cable...probably is, but compared to all the other needles which dampen nicely, the speedo just drops. I can only assume it is meant to be like this as it does rely on a cable rather than electricity. Anyway, interested to know what people think on that one.


About to put it all back in. I hope the LCD works!!

All S1 speedo's flicker now, down to the cable.

What I think really Will. My one does do a cracking job at flickering....I was just intrigued if the mechanism inside the dials, was to blame this time. I'm not even going to attempt to fix that. i'll try a new cable at some point.

Try wedging a 3.5mm LHM seal over the cable before clipping it to the speedo head.

Good idea. I'll try it.

Mine flickers a bit around 50mph but at other speeds seems pretty stable really...

I think you've found the root cause though Russ, a lack of damping on the mechanism. I guess by design rather than old age as I recall cable driven Xantia speedos were just as bad..

Will, what's the thinking behind the LHM seal on the cable then?

I suppose it would make sense, if it doesn't have good dampening, then the needle won't be held stable. You could tell it was different to the others, which have a lovely glide. In comparison the speedo needle has almost or certainly much less resistance when it drops.
But mine is opposite to yours Jim, it gets more stable as speed increases.
Strangely the needle is also quite faded compared to the others. Why who knows!

Anyway, all back in now. I haven't tried it yet as I want to take it for a proper spin. Only I have been blocked in by the neighbours and someone else, and with no proper wiper I can't even do it tomorrow.
I did take another look at it, I really fear for the spindle, it seems much looser to the passenger side. Damn these nonces!

Hopefully Mr Rave will seek one out for me.

russ92xmsed wrote: Strangely the needle is also quite faded compared to the others. Why who knows!

One or other will be from a different car.

Had crossed my mind. It does all look consistent behind the scenes, but I suppose you can't always tell....and it's easy enough to swap bits about in the dial pack.
Very odd though how a needle can fade to almost white / clear...the dials are pretty well covered, so wonder if it is sunlight that is responsible. Not come across one like that before. A mystery!