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[wakeyomega]

I have a leak at the rear of the engine and I'm pretty convinced its coming from the heater Bypass valve (or coolant cut off valve as my TIS 2000 CD calls it). I've got the procedure as recommended in the TIS, and I've also seen a very good 'how to' on VXON. Both describe taking off the intake plenum to allow access. I've also seen a comment that this may not always be neccesary.

My question is
1. "Has anybody out there managed to change the HBV without removing the plenum, and if so, how tricky is it?"

I suppose another question should be,
2. "for those who have removed the plenum to do it, should a reasonable competent amateur be able to do it?"

Thanks Pat
Omega Elite Estate V6 June 2000

[razzo]

You dont have to remove the plenum but taking off the scuttle panel makes life easier. Its not a difficult job just fiddley, a box of plasters wouldn't go amiss & hide the swear box

[razzo]

I also found it easier to un hook the hbv as it clips onto a metal plate. Once i did this the hbv can be moved a bit making access to the 3 hose spring clips better. Got mine off with small set of long nose mole grips.HTH

[JamesV6CDX]

Plenum definately doesn't need to come off

Just scuttle panel, 5 minute job.. then the HBV.. 15 mins tops..

Then tem mins scuttle back on

Should be able to complete it all in 30 mins...

[TheBoy]

Easy, but fiddly job.  I normally send Tunnie down to those parts of my engine bay, but I appreciate not everyone has a Tunnie in their toolbox

Wipers and scuttle off should be enough access, the clips are those fiddly ones, there is a special tool, but can be done with pliers and screwdrivers...

New HBV is around £25 from dealer.

[HI2DVY]

I agree with the other comments. No need to remove Plenum but remove the scuttle first. To do this you first have to remove the wipers. This can often take longer to do than changing the HBV itself. The scuttle is held in place by 7 plastic turn-clips which are hidden under the windscreen rubber seal. They are like screws but only need a quarter turn to remove and lift out.
It can be a mare of a job if you have big hands but its not a difficult job so get the wife out

[wakeyomega]

Mmm - I'm at the 'remove wiper arms' stage now. I've removed the lock nuts. Do they 'just' pull off? They appear solid at the moment. Not sure if thats just corrosion.

Ta Pat
 

[Admin]

Not so much pull off as wiggle off. Try lowering bonnet to wiggle the arm from a different angle. They do come off....eventually!  

[HI2DVY]

It can take a bit of force to get the wiper arms off. Make sure they are folded back off the windscreen first. This takes the tension off the arms. If lowering the bonnet to take the arms off, make sure you fold the arms back down onto the windscreen again before lowering the bonnet otherwide you mangle the wiper arms - like what happend to ... er a friend of mine  

You can sometimes use a flat spanner under the wiper arms and around the spindle to lever them off but be careful not to split the scuttle.

Dave

[STMO123]

Plenum definately doesn't need to come off

Just scuttle panel, 5 minute job.. then the HBV.. 15 mins tops..

Then tem mins scuttle back on

Should be able to complete it all in 30 mins...

Hmmmm..........Mark Mk 2

[TheBoy]

My method for removing stuck wipers is to repeated press down on where the wipers hinge.  Always works for me

And its 8 plastic clips holding scuttle on (and a torx screw)....

[wakeyomega]

Sooooo - heres the story so far
I started the first 5 minute job (remove wipers) at 1:00 pm and finished at 16:30 (most of which spent running around town to buy a small hub puller to remove wiper arms).
Scuttle removal was straight forward, so then went to drain radiator. Now here is where I had the opportunity to right one of my winter wrongs, when I changed my antifreeze last year my radiator tap snapped like a carrot when i tightened it, so I've had a new one just waiting for spring and the right opportunity.........

I tackeld getting out the broken radiator tap with a stud extractor.... I now look to have got a leak from the tap but have failed to remove the old sheared thread - so I'm now looking to a radiator removal to drill out the old tap, as access is horrendous. I think I'm going to spend easter under an Omega.

Thanks for all the help and support so far - I will update you on the saga when I have had a succesfull breakthrough (or when I get it towed to the local Vauxhall dealer, with my tail between my legs.)

cheers Pat
 

[STMO123]

Dont take it to a dealer Pat, I can recommend a good independant.

You have a PM by the way.

[wakeyomega]

Thanks All for your help, advice and boost to the confidence. The HBV is now replaced, didn't quite hit the 30 mins timing - took a day and half, much of which was spent panicking over the broken radiator tap which I then proceeded to butcher. I couldn't get the broken tap out, but it isn't leaking either, so I will need to remove the radiator next, but I will I'll leave that battle for another day (month(s) )

Thanks again

Pat
 

[TheBoy]

Thanks All for your help, advice and boost to the confidence. The HBV is now replaced, didn't quite hit the 30 mins timing - took a day and half, much of which was spent panicking over the broken radiator tap which I then proceeded to butcher. I couldn't get the broken tap out, but it isn't leaking either, so I will need to remove the radiator next, but I will I'll leave that battle for another day (month(s) )

Thanks again

Pat