> I just got a 1991 XM 2.0i. It is in great condition (only 80k miles
> with service history) but there is a couple of little electrical
> problems.
> The rev counter doesn't work and it looks like the dashboard lights
> dont work either. I checked the fuse but that seems okay.
Never realy got into the electrics on the XM but this might help.
On the early XM's there was one hell of a lot of electrical gremlins,
the cure for most of these was to sort out the earth wires. The earths
can be found on a multi plug on the inner wing right up next to the
back of the headlights, (both sides)
The modification on these early cars was to disconnect the multi plug
from thr earth point, then remove the body side of the multi plug, this
is held on with a M6 nut (10mm socket) Bin the multi plug and this will
leave you with a M6 stud poking out of the inner wing. Next cut off the
wire end and put normal ring connectors on all of the wires, then you
can place the rings over the stud and wind on a 6mm nut, of course not
forgetting to clean it all. This will give you a much more secure
earthing.
I dont know if this will cure all of the problems, but it was a Citroen
reccomended mod on the early cars. My guess as to the rev counter would
be a duff sensor, this should be around the flywheel area, if I
remember right!
The XM was allways a very much underated car, bad news if you bought a
new one but buying used you allways got one hell of a lot of car for
not a lot of cash.
Regards.
Slim.
Adrian - 13 Feb 2006 20:26 GMT
> I dont know if this will cure all of the problems, but it was a Citroen
> reccomended mod on the early cars.
And, I hear, very well worth doing.
> My guess as to the rev counter would be a duff sensor, this should be
> around the flywheel area, if I remember right!
I have a feeling that it takes it straight from the ECU.
Slim - 13 Feb 2006 21:28 GMT
You are probabaly right about the rev counter coming off the ECU, as I
said, I never realy got into elecy bits, I did mainly the hydraulics.
You would be suprised on the amount of customers that came into the
workshop complaining of duff dash lights, only to find out that they
had dimmed the switch with their knee when getting into the car !!!!!!
I stand by my words though. The XM is a great car, very much underated.
Regards.
Slim
fightgear - 14 Feb 2006 09:47 GMT
Isn't the rheostat (dimmer switch) the dial to the left of the steering
wheel? Or is there another under the dash?
I'll check out the multiplug - I noticed on the fuse idenitification
chart that the tacho, dashboard lights and a couple of other things
have the same fuse so first thing I was going to do was check if the
power was going to that (the fuse hasn't blown).
Also, any idea where I can get the little plastic frame which houses
the two electric window controls in the driver side door?
Cheers for all the advice guys.
Adrian - 14 Feb 2006 10:16 GMT
> Isn't the rheostat (dimmer switch) the dial to the left of the steering
> wheel? Or is there another under the dash?
As I said - I've only had an s2.
On that, the dimmer is right under the dash, next to the steering column
housing, just to the right (I think) of it. Fiddle with the fingertips for
it...
> Also, any idea where I can get the little plastic frame which houses
> the two electric window controls in the driver side door?
Scrappy.
Adrian - 14 Feb 2006 10:15 GMT
> I stand by my words though. The XM is a great car, very much underated.
Agreed. I've had my '96 TCT Auto VSX for over five years now - I still miss
the '89 CX GTi Auto that I had before, but the XM is a far "better" car,
viewed with the head.
No competition for the CX if you let the heart get involved, though...
fightgear - 14 Feb 2006 11:14 GMT
Well just tried to take the dashboard off (according to the Haynes)
with no joy! It says in the book unfasten the two securing screws and
pull it forwards - well, the two screws are not there AND it looks like
the dash has cracked as someone has tried to wrench it away. It seems
like something along the top of the instructment panel is holding it
on! Damn, and I thought this would be easy!
Adrian - 14 Feb 2006 11:35 GMT
> Damn, and I thought this would be easy!
Heh heh heh... It's an XM. It's testing you, to see if you're worthy of it.
fightgear - 20 Feb 2006 11:34 GMT
Oh Gawd....
Just spent the weekend trying to detatch the dashboard so I can get at
the dials. I have checked my voltages from the rheostat and thats okay
so the lighting problem (dashboard lights don't work) and rev counter
are dashboard related. Please gimme some idea of how to get the
dashboard off! The Haynes says unfasten two screws and it will come off
but it seems attatched on the top ledge. Am I missing something??????
Malc - 14 Feb 2006 16:57 GMT
> Well just tried to take the dashboard off (according to the Haynes)
> with no joy! It says in the book unfasten the two securing screws and
> pull it forwards - well, the two screws are not there AND it looks like
> the dash has cracked as someone has tried to wrench it away. It seems
> like something along the top of the instructment panel is holding it
> on! Damn, and I thought this would be easy!
XM and easy are not usually uttered in the same breath. However I loved
mine. There are some dodges to get round some of the tricky stuff.

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Malc
"Ah, that did it. Spare brain in action, I'm ready to go again!"