jamescarruthers

Bon voyage! Have a soft spot for an Espace so loved your recent video on that early one

My Dad has decided that he doesn’t really fit in to his Mk. 1 TT now and has mothballed it in the garage with a view to selling it when he gets around to it. It was very much babied and garaged and he drives like a nun. Want me to ask how much he wants for it? He is up in Newcastle though. All I know is that it’s red and I think the turbo version. Not my cup of tea at all.

It’s not too bad work at all TBH— quite satisfying methodical work rather than lack of access horribleness. I seem to remember that you can clean some of the pipes rather than replace them (as they are “due at 100,000 miles) if you want to do it cheaper but word is the parts don’t last as long as genuine ones. I got mine from a Welsh Volvo dealer during lockdown who seem to reknowned for being happy to post parts out. Parts for Volvo Online will do you cheaper pattern parts though. I seem to remember the radiator needed drained so I took the opportunity to put in a new coolant temperature sensor which was also recommended to me. I also took them time to have the injectors ultrasonically cleaned by post while they were right in front of me. Just an optional extra.

https://m.youtube.com/c/RobertDIY This guy is just fantastic for keeping 850s going. I learnt a lot from him for my C70 adventures. Check the PCV system with a rubber glove for piece of mind. If you are lucky no work is required… if required, I’d recommend bumping it up the list.

Is there a tiny rotary switch on there headlight switch that you can adjust country settings on? When I say tiny I mean you will need a little screwdriver. It should be described in the handbook. (this, in the bottom right) But a Volvo needs ALL the lights so would suggest leaving “as is”.

Woohoo and 850 is a fine fine vehicle. Good luck with your wallet lightening at the petrol pump!

Best of luck!

Some hope then! I know people just like to say “MAF” to everything these days but on my sister’s 2.2, Chevronics found that the wiring to there MAF plug had been damaged a little over the years as it had to be disconnected or gets a bit tugged to change something fairly frequently (air filter, maybe?). They repaired it anyway and it only occasionally hiccuped before that. It may be worth a look at yours in this respect. Also, to be on the safe side, we put a second hand genuine one from Edwards & Sons on as aftermarket are supposed to be a bit hit and miss. I mention them specifically because they looked after us when the replacement Eolys tank had a gummed up pump and they were very happy for me to go back and try another without and fuss. So I’d trust their parts and them to do the right thing by you if you do want a second hand MAF.

Ah sorry, I was convinced otherwise. I stand corrected!

Me neither, but if the guy who refilled yours has also gone a little over there could be an accumulative effect, plus heat expansion, etc. I think getting the level right is quite complicated to do with temperatures and drips. Grasping at straws on your behalf here! The C6 has the same box doesn’t it? If so, here’s the fill procedure: C6AutoGearboxdrainandrefillprocess (1).pdf

Did you drain some of the fluid off when you added the recent snake oil? I’m just wondering if it just isn’t happy being slightly overfilled?

Exactly, so ignore this if you see it written as a thing you must absolutely change.

Good to know. ORGA code 6176 equates to 6 October 1993 http://www.citroen-ds-id.com/gen/Gen_Organr.html

From what I remember there is lots of talk about replacing a Woodruff key on one of the pulleys but was advised that is sort of old information due to them fitting a weak one early in production. So the Haynes manual, for example, insists that this is replaced but it really only needs done once and likely already done. Good luck with the work. Great progress on the lovely XM!

Sure!

Gateshead but comes down south to visit me now and again.

I’d say very good condition apart from a bit of rust on the tailgate (look like stone chips that have been left) and some just starting on one rear arch lip. It has also had been mega spent on late in life like yours. The only major upcoming expense I can see is that it hasn’t had the rear arm bearings done but there is a slight “click” which Pleiades tell me means means it will need done at some point. She does such low miles and you wouldn’t know unless you knew to listen for the click. https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6629 (not so up to date but you get the jist—- has just had clutch and DMF done plus lower mileage gearbox while we were in there as didn’t realise the clutch has shat itself, not the gearbox at first. It had a horrible single mass flywheel conversion when we bought it but that is binned and the DMF reinstated and the ‘box is perfect now with the addition of a new slave cylinder.

My sister is going to be a student later this year and the C5 2.2 is a bit thirsty for her, plus she doesn’t need an estate so much that her baby is older. I’m hoping to get it a good home on here. If it all goes wrong with your gear box, would you consider it? It is a manual though and suspect automatics are your thing?

You are right in that they are perfectly adequate when all is good. You must be lucky with your replacement set with good bulbs, no voltage drops (more of a problem on early cars) and decent reflectors. Actually , in XM world, you are probably pretty lucky in most respects!

Cool. Send me a PM of where you’d like it sent. It take until next week or at the end of the month.

I have a driver’s side mirror (in the wrong colour) and which only adjusts in one direction. Would you like it to try to make one good mirror out of two? I’m thinking to replace the black plastic body in your picture that is damaged. I was going to bin it.

“Previous owner: a convent of nuns” trumps the fuck out of “one lady owner”! Sadly, no one at all will believe you if you were to write it in it’s for sale advert.

Legend. Love to see an old car on a proper trip!

Would something like 3M’s 1300L, a contact adhesive, but a rubber one, be any good or I’ve you already tried this?

Ringtons, nice! I still buy their tea by mail order and have it sent down south!