Considering XM petrol automatic, advice appreciated...

[ekjdm14]

Just seen a '94 XM estate, 2.0 petrol automatic for spares/repair near us and I'm interested. The car needs welding for MoT (I can do that probably, would have to look) and the usual electrical foibles to go through, but the main thing that worries me is that the gearbox has a fault, described as and I quote "There is a problem with the automatic gear, it can only be put in 'P','N', and 'D'. Replacement autounit shift comes with it, must be fitted."
So, what I'm wondering before I consider going to look at the car is if there's any likelihood of the fault being either electronic or shifter related, any known issues that would cause this symptom etc?

My feeling is if there's no reverse but "P" still works then it can't be shifter related and the 'box itself is going to have to be stripped and at the very least the valve block cleaned out, if not new clutch/brake packs fitted. The car has done 163k so could be that the box is ready for a rebuild/replacement anyway. What make/model gearbox is fitted to these models? I have a little experience of ZF 4HP22 and they tended to start slipping through wear around 150-160k, although they were in older RWD cars.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, by the way this car is purported to have been featured in the Citroen Car Club magazine of December 2012 and October 2013. It has also been shown on the 25 years XM event in September 2014.

[xantia_v6]

I suggest you join and repost your message on http://www.club-xm.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (it has several of the same contributors as this site, but others who specialise in the XM), you will get a more authoritative answer there, and someone there probably knows the car.

[ekjdm14]

I suggest you join and repost your message on http://www.club-xm.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (it has several of the same contributors as this site, but others who specialise in the XM), you will get a more authoritative answer there, and someone there probably knows the car.

Thanks for the suggestion, not much sleep last night so never even thought of that! From what I've read on there it may just be a gummed up valve block, but then again it may not be so will have to see what the rest of the car's like. I can live with rebuilding the 'box & searching out parts if the rest of the car is clean and tidy as it looks in photos, time will tell I guess...

So, anybody got a ZF 4HP18 'box they don't want, to strip down as a "practice" unit and for possible spares lol

[Deanxm]

Be aware that the valve block and other parts are engine specific, i take it this is a TCT engine? they are rather common and you should be able to find another box easily, if its the 16v or 8v nasp they are not so common, most parts are still available through ZF which is fine for small parts and gaskets etc.

Do you have a link to the ad?

D

[ekjdm14]

I'm afraid it's a meagre 16v N/A so not one of the more common ones. From what I gather though as long as I don't lose any of the cup washers or mix them up positioning-wise then as you say the gaskets and maybe springs should be able to get them through ZF or an agent of theirs, and the brake bands etc don't seem to die in quite the way that the 4HP22 did on the BMW's I had so lack of availability isn't as much an issue there touch wood.

From the reading I've been doing I'm hoping the lack of reverse is more likely a valve gumming/spring weakness issue than actual damage so could be ok to fix but will be trying to have a good "play" with it & find out exactly what the seller's "Replacement autounit shift " is that comes with the car. (my guess is a new shifter/cable, either bought in error by the owner or added to the deal to "throw a bone" to the more hopeful of internet "mechanics" who might want to buy it)

[Deanxm]

A broken spring in the shuttle valves housed in the valve block is a favourite, I think its going to be repairable in situe but I think your right about the part, will be a waste of time. Looks clean overall but do look carefully at the rust, rear subframe mounts, cills, front outriggers, box sections under floors, the underbody protection is tough and difficult to spot rust coming from the inside out.

D

[ekjdm14]

Yeh the more I read about the 4HP18 the more my worries shift from "is the gearbox repairable" to "is the welding required going to be OTT?"
Thanks for the advice