Citroen XM Forum

That's not a problem at all Russ

For the glowplug light, check the earth strap onto the gearbox. Mine was making poor contact and the engine started ok-ish, but the glow light was more miss than hit. Sorted the connection and the starting is fantastic and the glow light is 100% good.

Oooo! Thanks Will, I'll take a look.

ALSO Check the THICK black wires to the bottom of the Black box for the heater plugs, on the front of the battery box, They can and DO corrode, as they are exposed.

You have H1 Russ, ONE electro valve and the MORE RELIABLE system!!

citroenxm wrote:ALSO Check the THICK black wires to the bottom of the Black box for the heater plugs, on the front of the battery box, They can and DO corrode, as they are exposed.

You have H1 Russ, ONE electro valve and the MORE RELIABLE system!!

I have had a look before at those wires Paul and they seem to be fine. But thanks for the reminder. I will take another look. Been a year since, so they might have got mucky.

Mine does have H1, and the electro valve appears to work fine, when the fuse is taken out of the bypass wire. ....so I know it is different to Cromptons, but interested in why his has been cut like mine, if there is a common reason. It is clearly a quick fix to keep the suspension soft.

russ92xmsed wrote:It is clearly a quick fix to keep the suspension soft.

Or a bodge...

I'm not sure how an H1 Car switches to hard mode but I know on an H2 it's very frequent and almost every corner sees a quick switch to hard in order to reduce body roll and keep things taut.. A trip with a Lexia reading live Hydractive data can be very instructive and eye-opening.

One that stays soft all the time is going to be a bit wallowy and roly-poly just when you don't want it to be and handling will be compromised. I'd go as far to say that it's unsafe. Xantias are bloody awful if stuck in soft.

I'd imagine hard mode is made the fail-safe and default so at times of trouble hard mode is imposed to maintain safety.

Would a XM stuck in soft behave like a DS or CX? ....or are they really soft in soft mode to give good ride and then sport mode is there to prop things up when needed. How I expect it to work and always thought how hydractive one works.
Anyway, I agree Jim, it is a bit roly-poly at times round some corners, but I have never found it feeling really unsafe. Anyway it's a 2.1 auto...what's fast!!!!!

My Diesel has a disconnected hydractive for some reason. I don't notice it really and I don't mind it. It's certainly not unsafe.

CitroJim wrote: One that stays soft all the time is going to be a bit wallowy and roly-poly just when you don't want it to be and handling will be compromised. I'd go as far to say that it's unsafe. Xantias are bloody awful if stuck in soft.

It would be interesting to see the results for the S1, but in soft mode I'd be very happy to take it round a track, but it isn't really a car I'd hustle. The SM rolls a lot lot more, but you just modulate your inputs, it isn't a car you can do full lock off and on rapidly!

captainhaddock wrote:My Diesel has a disconnected hydractive for some reason. I don't notice it really and I don't mind it. It's certainly not unsafe.

Didn't know yours was disconnected too Jaap. How has yours been done. Cut ECU wires and feed to keep the electrovalve in soft like mine? But yours is H2 so....er....... .....


From what I understand, is H1 is essentially a cruder system, by that I mean it is that little bit slower to react to cornering speed. And with each development it got quicker and quicker. But with H2 the difference is even when put in sport, it is still in soft but pops into sport more often....right or wrong?

Anyway, I agree Charles, not a car to hustle about... unless that is you have a V6......