Xm Starter - Aaargh!, Who'd do one???

[UFO]

As with all things Citroen, the XM's starter motor decided that a couple of weeks before we went O/S to ICCCR would be a good time to cark it. Fortunately as we now live in Sydney, it was out of the way and we did not require it for essential trips. However it had died parked in the street not in the garage - and the street in front of our house has a gentle slope meaning the car was parked facing uphill.

Oh well, before we went away I ordered the new starter from the Martin Bray Retirement Fund (sponsored by Keller Family Bank Accounts TM) and as per Martin's usual excellent service it arrived a couple of days later. Time to put that aside until I return.

Well after getting Celeste's new wheels and tyres fitted yesterday, getting the D blue slipped to go back onto real UFO plates and lots of other jobs, it was about 33deg in Sydney. Time to sit inside and do not much I thought. Just as well.

This morning I was determined to get the job done. The car was flat on its belly in the street and because of the footpath lump outside our garage there was no way I would have got the car into the garage intact. Only one call for it - take the jack, stands and tools to the car. Several trips later I had a pile of bits and pieces ready to go - thank goodness I have a small fridge trolley!

I knew I had to remove the front to rear exhaust pipe connection that connects the front manifold of the V6 engine to the rear manifold junction area. Easy enough - a couple of hex key studs and a couple of 16mm nuts. Simple!

I then had to remove a heat shield that supposedly protects the starter from the exhaust manifold. Three 10mm bolts - easy. Then remove the shield - ZOT FLASH. Oh shite - forgot to remove the battery +. IDIOT!

Remove battery + simple when you do it...

So now I can see one hex key bolt from the starter side of the assembly. Soon enough that is undone. Too easy!

Next one I can see is the lower hex key bolt from the gearbox side. Easy - NOT!!

After much cursing and swearing and continual creeping down the hill on my mechanic's creeper thing (well it was doing its role I suppose) I eventually realised that I WAS going to have to remove the heart of the hydraulic system. Such a F U N job - when the alternative is having your finger nails pulled out one by one I suppose.

So out it all came and slowly went back in. I didn't get too much LHM in my mouth, eyes and hair, but enough to remind me.

I took the opportunity to swap the pressure reg for a known better one I have had for a while, so it was not a wasted effort.

Of course once I could see the lower gearbox side bolt it came out easy enough, but the upper one was virtually invisible and I could really only rely on feel to get to it. When I had the replacement starter in I wisely test tapped the start position on the key to ensure it would turn the engine - and it did! WHEW

Soon enough all the pipes were falling back into place but the usual range of cursing about getting LHM pressure pipes to line up "just right" was heard. I think as the last pipe nut was being done up Paul Smith dropped in as he had been nearby visiting his brother.

Paul was very useful as we soon found the rear of the XM would not lift off the ground. We tried a jack under one of the rear tow hooks just in case there was a stick height corrector. We jiggled the car - nothing nadda zip zilch. Paul then suggested re bleeding the system via the pressure release valve. Oh well, worth a try.

Well that worked too! Excellent - the car now lifts quite quickly and that clacking regulator every 2 seconds has ceased too.

Thanks too to little UFO for his help at the end of the day.

Just thought I'd share what I did today. I could have gone out and enjoyed a perfect spring day in Sydney. But why do that when you can replace a starter motor on a V6 XM. All up about 7 hours work for me today.

Whether I will be able to walk tomorrow will be interesting to see as my legs spent most of the day trying to stop me rolling down what is a deceivingly gentle slope.

[colinxm]

Well done Craig Spring in Sydney doesn't half sound welcome right now as winter is fast approaching Stavanger and that's when I usually end up spending umpteen hours lying on my back underneath my xm

Colin.P

[citroenxm]

Wish that was all I had done this weekend! Your luck the front to rear manifold pipe removed easyily... the excellent british weather makes sure the bolts WONT come undone... well, they never do on my V6..

My weekend back breaker ... and engine swap in a VW Sharan/Ford Galaxy.. this one being the Ford version... never again! So a non citroen weekend for me!

Good work UFO!

Rgds
Paul

[Assich]

My 60 degree with auto box was simple. Motor bolts strasight to engine block rather than the gearbox. Only the heat sheild to come of to access the bolts.

[citroenxm]

Yeah the 60 deg is a PSA u unit and much more modern.... lucky you!


Paul