FITTING HEATER PLUGS IN A FORD ORION ?

Hi, Carol,
It's easier than you think. You'll need to disconnect the battery first, just in case you touch anything with the spanners you shouldn't. Then you'll need a small ring/open ended spanner to disconnect the bus lead (usually a red thick cable that joins all the plugs together. This takes the current from the cold start relay (on the nearside inner wheel arch) to each plug. Be careful with the small nuts/washer as they're a bit of a fiddle. The two nearest the nearside are a little difficult to manage comfortably, but with smaller fingers than most mechanics, you should manage OK. The you'll need a 12mm ring spanner to undo the plugs themselves. It's quite straightforward. There's nothing to drop out or fall inside the engine, just loosen them off anf lift them away. Make sure and keep the spanner straight on the plugs when you slacken them. They shouldn't be too tight. Clean up around the holes with a bit of rag before you put the new ones in. They just screw straight in. Resist the temptation to force them tight. Tighten them til they bite then a fraction more. There is a correct torque for them, but if you haven't got a torque wrench, it's immaterial. Just make sure they're a good seal and not likely to loosen and fall out. Then carefully replace the red bus cable that joins them. A little fiddly, but take it slowly and you'll be OK. Again, nothing difficult about it. Don't drop the little nuts/washers as they'll disappear into the depths of the bottom of the engine never to be seen again. Put a white cloth underneath where you're working, it works sometimes if you drop something small. Reconnect the battery, smearing the terminals with a little vaseline when you do it as it helps prevent corrosion. Reset the clock and the code on your radio if you need to and that's the job done. As I say, it's an easy job, much simpler than it looks. Have fun!!!

Denis Langley
March 2006