Citroen XM - was JohnK's steed

[dollywobbler]

It was like watching a Hollywood horror film... You know what is coming but can't help but watch!

 

411 views in a day suggests you're not alone. I was going to edit it down, but the suspense is quite terrifying, even for me! So I left it. It's out-performing my caravan video. Who'd've thunk it?

[dollywobbler]

After 15,000 miles in my £375 XM, I've actually had a hydraulic problem develop (other than spheres). The steering had occasionally become rather notchy, as if the assistance was cutting in and out. It did it a bit when taking the 2CV body to Bradford, occasionally on the trip to pick up the caravan (but not the journey back towing it) and an awful bloody lot driving back from Devon on Sunday.

 

Possibility one was a steering universal joint getting a bit stuff. I located the one in the engine bay, soaked it in grease and it didn't cure it. Possibility two was a loose belt or a cracked pipe near the pump. I did spot that LHM had been misting a bit here, but a joint was slightly loose.

 

I thought I'd better crack on and check the most likely culprit. The LHM filters. I decided to see if I could remove the filters without having to drain the LHM tank. This turned out not to be the case and I spilt LHM everywhere! I pulled out the main steering filter, and it looked like this.

 

That'll likely be the problem then! I'm amazed any fluid was getting through that. I pulled the other filter off, soaked both in petrol and cleaned them up. A lot. Much better!

 

Then I dug this bottle out from the back of the garage. I can't even remember which car I bought this for, would have been a BX. Anyway, finally, it got its chance! I poured a load in. Ideally, I would have opened up every bleed nipple to purge the system of LHM. I've run out of time today though, because I've got tons of work to do. However, the sun was shining and I know I've got many miles to cover. It needed doing.

 

There was the usual fretting about whether the car would raise up again after a fluid drop. It took a few minutes, but she self-primed eventually and up she went. Brilliant!

 

The hydraflush will stay in for 1000 miles or so, before another drain and a refill with LHM. I'd better buy some more...

[mouseflakes]

Ace! So much pressure it even pushed the bonnet and boot open!

[dollywobbler]

I believe there were prototypes with hydraulically operated windows and seats. WCPGW?

[Matt]

I believe there were prototypes with hydraulically operated windows and seats. WCPGW?

 

Ask Mercedes 600 owners, they had hydraulic seats and windows. Apparently those are horrendously expensive to repair, as in thousands of pounds for even some small hydraulic parts.

[dollywobbler]

Pleased to report that this thing is driving very nicely at the moment. Not sure if I'm imagining it, but I'm sure the ride is better. Dread to think what state the LHM filters are going to be in again soon...

[dollywobbler]

And so, the end has arrived. The XM is now in the hands of JohnK, and I have a very large XM-shaped parking space back in my life (the RAV4 doesn't really take all of it up). Reading back at the start of this thread, it's been nice to prove the doom-mongers wrong. The XM has been a real delight. Not perfect, but no car is. I shall miss some aspects of it, and other aspects not at all. I think the economy is the thing I'll miss most. Goodbye 50mpg!

 

I will concede that I've been lucky. Some XMs really do seem to be flaky pieces of crap. This one has been astonishingly good - though I suspect being a lower spec one helps. I hope JohnK enjoys it as much as I have.

[JohnK]

 

[beko1987]

A chapter is closed! But, will you find another car that you will like as much? I bet youll try...

[billyboy406v6]

 

Are you parked up awaiting recovery vehicle ?

[hairnet]

john - da fuq??

 

really?

 

bit surrender monkey for ya innit??

[dollywobbler]

John has made it as far as Bradford, and my 2CV's panels have been delivered. Lovely.

[chaseracer]

Nice picture at the top of the ShiteFest test circuit 

[hairnet]

john lucky as all footy is finished and the manu went to wembley early this morning

[JohnK]

All isn't well in the world of XM ownership.

 

She's drives lovely and everything and I can see her staying for a period as a daily. However this evening, this happened

 

 

I was moving cars around at home, I got everything sorted but just needed to move the wheelie bin. I did that and when I got back to the car, spastic French electronics had locked it... Running, with all my other keys in the car, including my 20 month old son.

 

Fortunately I had an Omega backbox in the garden that I hadn't yet disposed of and that did the deed, leaving me with this gap to crawl through to get to the drivers door and unlock everything (yes I'm stood on the bonnet of an E23!)

 

 

So, it's role as daily is now defunct until I can get some new glass and I've put her up the garage as its pissing down.

 

Anyway before this saga I managed to get a couple of shots

 

 

 

 

That must be all three bad luck things done for me now - I know I joked about it with Ian today, sods fucking law!

 

1) Berlingo fuel pump

2) 530 blowout

3) XM electrics

 

ðŸ‘

[vulgalour]

Like for you getting it home and it joining your fleet, not for putting the window through with a bit of old Omega.

[JohnK]

The JohnK secret car storage is having a French themed evening.

 

[beko1987]

I can sympathise with you there johnk, the meriva locked eva and Charlie in the other week, its never done that before, but did. Amy went spazmo apparently (i was at work) and tried all sorts, eventually eva managed to wind the manual rear window down a crack, and 3 helpful neighbors poked stuff through until they popped the door. Took them 2 hours, amy couldn't phone me as the house was locked, her phone was in the car and she didn't know my number off by heart.

 

I said that if it ever happens again, put one of the rear quarter lights through.

 

Reminds me, we must get a key cut and stash it somewhere...

[messerschmitt owner]

John K, Don't know what the issue is with the central locking on the XM but I have a fully operational key plip and matched central locking ECU from my old s2 XM estate  - £30 posted the pair. The ecu fits under the glove box in a wee tray.

[messerschmitt owner]

I also have an estate door that I could take the glass out of.

[SiC]

I can sympathise with you there johnk, the meriva locked eva and Charlie in the other week, its never done that before, but did. Amy went spazmo apparently (i was at work) and tried all sorts, eventually eva managed to wind the manual rear window down a crack, and 3 helpful neighbors poked stuff through until they popped the door. Took them 2 hours, amy couldn't phone me as the house was locked, her phone was in the car and she didn't know my number off by heart.

 

I said that if it ever happens again, put one of the rear quarter lights through.

 

Reminds me, we must get a key cut and stash it somewhere...

Wouldn't it be better to smash a windy window, as generally much easier to replace and obtain intact from a scrappy on most cars? Plus bigger, more useful hole.

[Jim Bell]

More glass on the son I would imagine.

[beko1987]

Wouldn't it be better to smash a windy window, as generally much easier to replace and obtain intact from a scrappy on most cars? Plus bigger, more useful hole.

I did think that, but with 2 kids sat in the back, either window will shower one of them with glass, and doing the front windows would render the car undriveable unless it's a nice day, windscreen would cost £75 and a massive blag to the insurance company and the boot window would be useless as too far away from any locks to pull.

 

Of course, my suggestion of just keeping the keys on her person as I've had it auto lock before if only the drivers door is open or summat got shouted down as 'never done that before' etc

[dollywobbler]

Oh dear. BECAUSE FRENCH. The fault is probably one of the door switches I reckon. This has happened to be but fortunately, the central locking often does not lock the boot. So I was able to get in that way when it happened to me...

 

I must concede that it did test my faith a bit that incident (a year ago) so on long trips, I'd started to take both keys with me.

 

Has reminded me that the fuel flap lock doesn't work. Not a problem in rural Wales.

[JohnK]

I think using quarter windows has been something historic on the basis that many cars never used to have bonded windows there.

 

I know when I locked the keys in the boot of my old MG ZS, I was able to remove the quarter light window with two screwdrivers to put my arm through, Pop the lock and open the door so I could open the boot with the release handle. Likewise when my Transit decided it would no longer like to unlock and the keys just turn in the barrel, removing the front quarter window meant I could put my arm through and open from the inside. Millions of thieves can't be wrong - they always seem to go for the quarter light 😆

 

Whilst replacing this glass could potentially be a sod with it being bonded, the quarter window was the smallest area I could use to minimise glass spread and also meant I was able to drive it to storage in the rain without the entire back of the car getting drenched.

 

I'm tempted to Perspex it up until I've got a replacement sorted as I'm like a kid at Christmas and want to get this onto the commute tomorrow. Must remember not to leave keys in the car until I've had a look at them electrics!

[cort16]

I always take the keys out my car now I've just had too many bad experiences. It happened with my 740 but luckily I had a spare and I wasn't going anywhere at the time. It's when you take the key out and it still keeps running you know you're really in trouble.

The guy who does work on my cars always leaves the keys on the scuttle while they're n the garage as he had a run of about -3-4 cars locking themselves with out without the engine running while the keys where in them. I now tend to do the same.

[FakeConcern]

Having had this happen to me, I always open the window a bit before I get out of a car while it's running (particularly if it's French).

[chaseracer]

If it's easier, I have a complete door, ready to bolt on.  In fact, I have all four and a tailgate.

 

It's not impossible that I may have mentioned this to you all before... 

[chaseracer]

And a set of tail lights off a white car, if you would like spares.

[hairnet]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mk1-Citroen-xm-drivers-side-rear-door-/301937915126