Citroen XM Forum

I had a similar problem on my old Xantia TD. Turned out to be a damaged negative battery connection.

Remind me, who's idea was it to make a headlining to fit my car! What a bloody polava! The moulding is obviously made to fit my car, and the headlining I have is for the later models. Although the difference looks obvious the work needed to convert one to the other is so subtle that it's only noticeable when the two are laid side by side.

The only bits of the moulding and headlining that have anything in common are the size and shape of the two, and the fixings for the sun visors - everything else is different. My initial thoughts before starting on this was that it would be the different courtesy light that would cause me grief, but it's actually been the sunroof aperture which is squarer than later models.

I've decided that instead of going through the same procedure with the lining material, which would mean five separate, and visible, stitching lines, it's easier to buy new material.

When I bought this car it had a fault showing intermittently on the warning screen. It read Engine Oil Pressure Warning and has been reminding me ever since. If there was a problem with the oil pressure it would have seized by now so I tend to think it's a glitch in the warning screen. What is worrying is that I cannot get a proper reading on the dipstick. The oil level comes up above the min mark but then always smears the dipstick so I can't get a complete reading. It doesn't matter if I wipe the dipstick or if the engine is flat cold. Any ideas to sort this out folks.

Is the dipstick bent?

Is she comming to CXM,? We can have a GOOD prod at that, and Ill bring a spare oil pressure switch IF I remember...

The oil pressure warning, wont be the display! It will be a dodgy sensor, its just telling you which sensor is playing up..

Do me a favour if you can Neil, above the oil filter, there should be a wire going to the block. It be good to know if it has a LARGE single connector, or a wider double plug..

Robert: Early car, doesn't the dipstick come up over the BACK of the engine.?. A mod that later 8v engines had when they moved the dipstick to the front..

The dipstick is straight. Will try to get up to the garage this week to have a look, Paul - work permitting . . . and yes she is coming to CXM.

Yup, dipstick up the back of the block.

Just take the first reading from a cold engine and pulling the stick out.

Paul, it's the large single connector.

Whilst there I pulled the dipstick out, it read a small amount on the tip and smeared all the way up. I wiped it down and took another reading and this time it showed up to the min mark but still smeared. When I got the car I changed the oil and filter and the readings were fine, it's only of late that it's been giving unreliable readings.

Q. If I were to pour diesel down the dipstick hole to clear any crap away what's the chances that it would give a decent reading. (I understand I would then need to change the oil again).

That sounds like the oil level is way too low. I can't recall having difficulty reading the level on this type of dipstick, but yes, it does smear.