Great Forum!

[BrendanM]

I've just joined the forum after a few hours of browsing.
You have plenty of good information. My Car wont start. I may have an ignition switch problem.

I have a 1997 series 2 estate with 2 litre turbo petrol engine.
I live in Coulsdon, Surrey and I like to do all my own maintenance.

[Ciaran]

Hi Brendan,

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure we can help out with your starting problem.

What does it do when you try to start, absolutely nothing, or does it turn over etc?

Do you have the keypad immobiliser?

Ciarán

[Boris]

Hello Brendon

If all the dash lights work and the keypad green light comes on, try shorting the starter relay feed to the main starter power feed. I find an open ended 19 mm spanner spans the connection just right. I can do with my eyes shut now!

Mine only plays up intermittently, usually when I've got smart clothes on! I've found WD 40 in the switch improves things for a while but I really must fit the new ignition switch that's in a box in the boot.

If you do a search there's plenty of info, including how to wire the circuit through a relay to stop the ignition switch frying itself.

Cheers Andy

[colinxm]

Hi Brendan, welcome to the "club" have you checked to see if the collision trip switch hasn't been triggered ? look for a square (with a circular protusion on top) rubber covered switch - probably black in colour but maybe red, to be found in the vicinity of the coolant expansion tank on your left when standing in front of your car - give it a press and see what happens when you try to start the engine again.

Good luck, Colin.P

[rowanmoor]

Hi Brendan,

You are just up the road from me then. I don't usually drive in that direction though. If you are heading south and see a green estate then it is probably me.

Should you ever find you can't do your own maintenance and need a garage for any reason then I can recommend one in Redhill who knows what they are doing with an XM.

[neilp]

Who that then? I don't remember anyone in Redhill who knew anything about Citroens. Unlees you mean the guy in Merstham? Small independant, I seem to remember. Mind you, it's 12 years since I moved from Redhill, so things may have changed. I did my training with a Citroen man in Purley, in a workshop in an alley behind the High Street. He's probably retired by now though!

[rowanmoor]

CarPrep - they're out by the airstrip in the middle of a field. They've been there for years - they were there when the BX came out! Not somewhere you would drive past and notice though.

I've heard of the guy in Merstham, but never been there.