1999 2.1 litre Auto~Auxilary Belt Rapid Wear., Troubleshooting Advice Sought.

[Nick R]

[U]
Km’s = 251,838 (157,399 miles) VIN = VF7Y4RN0000RN4901 (Sold New in New Zealand)
Problem = We have owned this XM about 8 months. We have travelled about 2500 km’s. The 4th A.D. belt is about to be fitted !!**?? This belt driving the hydraulic pump, alternator & the air conditioning compressor. Our XM is a well maintained example ~ we bought it from an Airbus 320 pilot who had been a meticulous owner. All the following work has been done our local Citroen specialist workshop & restorer, Auto France Ltd..
Belt #1 = Fitted on purchase. Along with a new camshaft pulley as the original was on the point of disintegration.(this pulley being a rubber bonded multi-part steel item)
Belt #2 = Replaced cast aluminium engine oil sump with a new item. I learnt that the previous owner having had the air conditioning compressor replaced by an Air Conditioning Specialist. Unhappily they neglected to properly tighten one of the compressor mounting bolts. This caused the bottom outer compressor mounting lug (cast into the sump) to break off. As a replacement new sump was not then available aluminium welding was used to re-attach the lug. Perhaps this repair had caused the compressor pulley to be slightly out of alignment causing rapid belt wear.......? This time a new sump was sourced & fitted.
Belt #3 = Replaced belt idler tensioner spring. (a small suspension strut with a coil spring and telescopic shock absorber ?) Original unit could be compressed by hand slightly. New item very much stiffer.
Belt #4 = My wife suggests finding a cliff to push the XM over. This time rubber debris from the latest grooved belt to get shredded got caught under the hydraulic pump pulley causing the pump shaft seal to leak. The mechanics initially unsure what to try next. Fix #3 ~ mechanics note that the alternator mounting M11 bolt (set screw?) is a sloppy fit. ( in the lugs on the alternator body) A replacement (M12?) bolt is being specially made.
Question:- Is there anything else which could be causing this problem? Otherwise two frustrated Citroen XM owners are very close to scrapping this car. Thank-you for your attention and better luck with your own XM’s.
Nick NZ

[Peter.N.]

The first thing I would have suggested is the crankshaft pulley as when the rubber bonding fails it will run out of line but I think you are saying you have changed this.

I can only suggest that you shine a bright light on the aux pulleys with the engine running and see if anything is running out of line - something must be.

Peter

[Nick R]

1999 Citroen XM 2.1 litre Turbo Diesel Automatic ~ Auxiliary Drive Belt Rapid Wear Update.
Km’s = 251,838 (157,399 miles) VIN = VF7Y4RN0000RN4901 (Sold New in New Zealand)
Problem = We have owned this XM about 8 months. We have travelled about 2500 km’s.

Correction:-Belt #1. Fitted on purchase. Along with a new crankshaft pulley as the original was on the point of disintegration.
(this pulley being a a dynamic vibration absorber; steel/elastomer construction),

Update = Our Mechanic advises that he has counted off 6 grooves in all pulleys which match the 'ribs' on the belt. No 5 groove vs 6 groove miss matches
between any pulleys & belt.
He advises that the hydraulic pump has been repaired and the special alternator bolt has been made. So next week the XM
should be back together. A chance to check the alignment of all pulleys very carefully.

I used to be a member of the UK Citroen Car Club very much enjoying their glossy A5 format monthly magazine Citroenian.
I plan to rejoin and see if their XM experts can advise me further.

I see a recent post from a woman in North Wales has an XM which has sheared off locating lugs for the air con. compr. on the sump
making a hole in it. I hope she isn't to go through the same ordeal.

On the club-xm.co.uk forum under diesel.

Nick in NZ