Citroen XM Forum

Yes perhaps strange Will but unfortunately also true and depending on who you speak to not that uncommon a problem, including in the XM V6! The flex plate seems to be a more usual failure I understand and I attach some photos from a Google search. Regards, Matthew T.

Its all the hard driving like a loony that mathew does! Lol .

Thanks for that Paul but I think rather the previous owner(s). Regards, Matthew T.

Sorry to hear this has happened Matthew.

I cant see crank end float being too much of an issue or existing at all on an Auto, manual cars can wear the control bushes on the crank but there is no loading on an auto.

..........................i think its more than chance that the crank sensor has been scuffed, every mount on the flex plate snapped and now its shed its ring gear, thats a lot of flywheel related problems on one engine in such a short amount of time.

D

Many thanks Dean and there was some earlier slight scuffing on the crank sensor when the original flex plate began to crack, presumably due to imbalance, although the flex plate is not the problem now and it is just the starter ring that has failed.

Several auto gearbox specialists have mentioned the alignment issue, but given there are five or six fixings between the engine and box cases and at least one dowel in place I cannot see it can be that far out. In addition when I attached the flex plate to the torque convertor the latter spun freely and there were no problems inserting bolts.

Obviously I shall make further even more scrupulous checks before reassembly, but my feeling at present is that the age of the car and margins allowed in manufacture plus previous harsh driving are to blame and it has been a lesson hard learnt!

Hopefully you will also give your starter ring and flex plate a very careful inspection before fitting Dean and I increasingly understand why there are so few early V6 autos on the road!!

With regards,

Matthew T.

I'm sorry to hear about your latest set back Matthew, however I'm sure you're capable of fixing it and at least you now know what to look for on your other Auto, these things are sent to try us!

I cant see the gearbox is mis-aligned, the torque converter bulged maybe but there wont be an issue with the way the box has aligned to the block.

Rest assured Matthew i will now be very carefully inspecting my flex plate and flywheel, what mileage has this car done by the way?

D

Dean, could you have NDT Ultrasonic or Eddy Current inspection carried out on yours before you fit it to see if there are any cracks? It wouldn't take long, but I have no idea of price.

I'm sorry to hear Matthew it's thrown another toy out the pram. Your perseverance with this car is commendable!
Hopefully you'll get it sorted soon enough. You'll be able to do a V6 engine removal blindfolded at this rate!

He was like a Kwik Fit Fitter when I watched him last!
(with more skill)