Citroen Xm speedo problem - S1.5 2.0TCT

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 16 Dec 2010, 21:30

An old friend has a 1994 S1 2.0TCT auto Xm Prestige, in black with black leather, 24v alloys, climate etc and it runs on LPG.

However, the speedo does not work for the first 20 miles or so, after that it springs back to life and starts working again.

Is this likely to be a problem with the speedo head?

robert_e_smart · Post by **robert_e_smart** » 16 Dec 2010, 22:22

Thats an odd one Chris, the series 1s have a mechanical speedo cable.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 16 Dec 2010, 22:29

Well i thought that too, however the owner has got hold of a replacement speedo head which looks to be electrical, not mechanical, and its S1.

Which confused me and prompted my post on here.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 16 Dec 2010, 23:22

If you look on the diff housing just above where the o/s drive shaft enters you will either find a speedo cable connection or an electrical sensor with a plug in it - that should help. I should wait until the snow has gone though

Peter

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 08 Feb 2011, 23:33

Well, ive still not got round to looking at this. Im no doubt going to get reminded again soon by the owner (really should look at the cruise control too, ive only been asked about it for about two years!) so, anymore thoughts on why this might be?

As the speedo doesn't work at first, but then after a few miles it does, it must be electrical related, as mechanical would work or not.

There is a cable running from the gearbox end but at the speedo end there is an electrical box, not a speedo. Or so the owner tells me, i need to have a look at it myself, but wanted to gain some info first.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 09 Feb 2011, 00:10

The sensor could be intermittent,it's quite easy to get to. If its not that it will probably be a dry joint on the instrument panel PCB, likely on one of the plugs.

Peter

I have just re read the original post and see its a '93, that makes it a Mk1 so it will have a mechanical cable.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 09 Feb 2011, 20:50

Its most VERY likely mechanical!! All S1's are cable driven.. Even a 1994 S1.5, on an M plate, TCT was cable drive...

Just like Xantias, were K, L and early M's were cable drive, Citroen changed Xantias and XM's at the same time to elecronic speedo.

XM Cables go through the Passenger side of the car and up by the glove box, so you should see a speedo cable going up by the braking pipes that pass through the Firewall..

Paul

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 09 Feb 2011, 20:55

Yep 100% cable drive, i would give the speedo a thump when setting off, it sounds like the needle is jammed, i had it happen to mine but when i got up to 60-70mph it would jump up and start reading, had to take the clocks out and give them a good blast with air and then a very light machine oil and now all is well.

D

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Feb 2011, 21:38

Thanks for all your replies, very helpful

Deanxm wrote:Yep 100% cable drive, i would give the speedo a thump when setting off, it sounds like the needle is jammed, i had it happen to mine but when i got up to 60-70mph it would jump up and start reading, had to take the clocks out and give them a good blast with air and then a very light machine oil and now all is well.

D

That is interesting! Thanks, Ill give that a try when i go and look at the car.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Mar 2011, 20:23

I went over to see this Xm a couple of weeks ago.

It is indeed cable driven, the owner had been sold a S2 speedo set as a S1 set, which is what threw him into thinking it had an electrical speedo.

I tried tapping the dash to try and get the needle working but that didn't help.

Today I had a bit of time to try and get a few of the jobs done on this Xm. Which requires driving it the 30 miles home. Despite the owner saying the speedo comes to life after around 15 miles, it didnt.

However on my return journey it did spring to life, on and off. At first it was flickering from the speed i was doing and back to 0, the it slowly got better and better, eventually working as it should - albeit very noisily with the needle clicking.

When the car started recording the speed it was recording the miles too. I think its most likely a problem at the gearbox end, rather than the speedo head, as that does work fine once the car has been driven for a while.

There are so many jobs which need doing on this car, im actually amased it got me on the 60 mile round trip, the noises it makes are unreal. Usually you dont feel like your moving in an Xm but this one feels like your doing the speed of sound!

A short list of its 'to do's':
Front wheel bearing droning horrendously
Rear wheel bearing on its way out
Two tyres needed
Rear discs are only 5.5mm think (should be at least 7 on this car, oddly the pads are new!)
Air conditioning belt missing
Cruise control doesnt work
All wiper blades are shot
Turbo does not work, its very slow to drive
Doors dont lock
Engine runs rough and emissions light comes on over 3Krpm
ABS fault intermittent
Handbrake cables about to snap
Spheres need regassing
Hydractive cuts into sport when it likes
Exhaust blowing
Oil leak
Suspension sinks after about 10 minutes

There is more, and of course the speedo has retired.

It probably needs a good service, gearbox oil change and cambelt too.

One of my jobs for today was to adjust the tracking, the tyres are bald on the insides, very good tread overall though, and the tyres tucked right out. The tracking was over half an inch toeing out! Ive never driven such a nervous car as this, driving home in heavy rain, on twisty back roads with 99p tyres and the front wheels pointing in totally different directions. It was certainly interesting!

I swapped the wheels front to back and adjusted the tracking, it now steers like an Xm should. I also tightened the slipping hydraulic belt and a few other bits and pieces. Im not sure how much of the above ill actually do, but its not a happy car at the moment. Which is a bit of a shame, as it could be a good car, its a good spec and i do like its leather interior with the electric arm rest.

I do need to get to the bottom of this speedo fault though.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 13 Mar 2011, 21:03

I have a TCT turbo that works Chris

Paul

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Mar 2011, 21:06

What, the whole car? That would be better

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 13 Mar 2011, 21:07

Ah no.... Just a unit..

Sold my TCT after ages of advertising...

Paul

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Mar 2011, 21:11

If this car was anything other than an Xm Id say it should be binned, but it is an XM so the jobs should really be done. At the moment its a struggle to find something which is right with it!

Not sure what is wrong with the turbo, ive not looked into it enough. Some suggestions have been a suck waste gate.

If it turns out the turbo is knackered, ill come to you, the main turbo supplier

Ive not mentioned to its owner that its so slow and he has not commented on it either ... so its performance has either dropped off slowly over time or its never worked in his ownership.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 13 Mar 2011, 21:14

Ooooooo chris - thats a point..

I had this on the old turbo on the Onyx, the C type clip tha holds the waste gate lever onto the waste spigot disintigrated.... resulting the lever being off, and the waste gate wide open for all boost to got the exhaust instead of the inlet....

A quick clip later - but prooved a worn spigot - it was fine again..

Thinking about it chris, I think thats the turbo I got on the engine spare, so would need that sorting first..

Paul