Another one of those little XM foibles. I can't believe it's so long since I was last here!

This time it's things getting hot under the bonnet. I'm driving along enjoying the sunshine when I notice the temperature gauge begin to climb. Usually it will get to 90 on the gauge and the fan will cut in sending it back down to where it ought to be.

Not this time. As I pull up at a set of traffic lights the gauge continues to creep up and over the 90 mark, but with no sound of the fan switching on. As I am in heavy traffic with nowhere I can pull up without causing mayhem, I continue to keep an eye on the temperature gauge whilst I am slowly engulfed by feelings of panic. This is brought about by memories of the nightmare caused the last time I was caught in hot weather with a boiling XM.

As the temperature continues to rise I spot a car park and pull off the road amid only a small cloud of steam.

A Stroke of Luck

As luck would have it, there is a petrol station across the other end of the car park, so after letting things cool down while enjoying an ice cream I fill up the radiator and head for home. Within a couple of miles the temperature is beginning to rise again and eventually the low water warning light comes on. But I make it home.

After giving things plenty of time to cool down, the autopsy begins. On carefully removing the water cap something seems strangely loose and floppy. It looks like the expansion tank, mounted on the left end of the radiator on this no-aircon 4 cylinder motor, has split around what appears to be a joint half way down. Out comes the expansion tank.

This is much easier to achieve than I expected, as there is no connection between the tank and the radiator, and only two screws hold the two together. Typically, these are screwed in from the front so you can't get at them with the radiator in place.

Another Stroke of Luck

I can't believe this, but the radiator is dead easy to remove.

There is one hose attached at the top right as you are looking at it. Even the clip is easy to remove, and the hose just pulls off.

There is a funny little wire spring clip at the top at each end of the radiator which holds it in place. Pull these up one at a time and gently ease the radiator back out of their reach.

The radiator and expansion tank can now be gently lifted up and to your left to allow easy access to the two hoses attached to the bottom of the expansion tank. Remove these, disconnect the two electrical connectors near them and the whole lot just lifts out. Carefully.

The two screws holding the expansion tank to the radiator can now be removed easily and you now have the tank in your hands. Except mine's in two pieces.

Hmmm ... Looks Strange

On close-up examination of the joint, it looks a little wierd. Typically Citroen, I s'ppose.

It looks as though the joint was never welded together as I thought it would be, but appears to be made to come apart for some reason. The problem is there is nothing to hold things together. There should surely be some sort of clip or clamp arrangement to hold the two parts together. Remember this thing is usually full of hot water under pressure.

I can't find anything that looks as though it might have done the job, nor does there appear to be any marks around the joint t suggest it may have been clamped at some time.

What Now?

This is very strange.

Even when the tank is mounted to the radiator there is nothing but the two small mounting screws to hold everything together. I try cleaning up the mating faces of the joint and fitting everything back together, then try filling up with water. The obvious happens, and it simply pours out around the joint. And this before there is any pressure.

To get an idea of how much pressure things will be under when running, I fasten a couple of rubber straps around the thing and fill it up again. No leaks yet.

I start the engine and about 30 seconds later it begins to leak.

Think Again

I take everything apart and sit and stare at the pieces for a while. The joint still looks temporary in nature. If it had been a glued or welded joint it would not have come apart as cleanly as this looks. There must have been some method of holding things together. Perhaps a clip has fallen off and disappeared somewhere.

As there is nowhere open at this time of the evening and I need the car first thing tomorrow morning drastic action is called for. Don't tell anyone, but I'm looking for the Araldite!