Hello Everyone,
It seems this post has lead to some lively debate.
I'd like to clear up a few points:
1. My mum has owned the car since 2003 when she bought it from a Vauxhall dealership. It was the dealer principles car.
2. The HBV has never been replaced, unless it was done in the first year of its life. So I therefore assume its original one and has done really well. The whole car has done really well, apart from the passenger door solenoid, blower motor and a broken rear spring, this leak is the only issue it's had in 20 years.
3. I'd like to do it myself as I worry about how careful a garage will be, and what issues this lack of care could create in future.
4. Sadly I don't have the mechanical competency, experience or the correct tools (Torx socket set, torque wrench) to replace the plenme successfully and for this it will have to go to a garage. Sadly we can't afford Vauxhall prices and I don't believe there is any mechanics left at any Vauxhall dealership who has seen, let alone worked on an Omega. So I don't trust them to do a good job either. My local garage will listen if I tell them the Omega aficionados on this forum recommend a way forward. It makes it easier for them.
5. Without wanting to cause a further discussion the cam belt hasn't been replaced. It probably should be done, but Mum drives less than 1000 miles a year so we are holding off on that. Soon she may not be able to drive at all (she's 85) so I want to keep the car going a bit longer for her at minimum cost.
6. It's the original windscreen.
7. The bottom trim on the windscreen has dropped off all the way along (falls off every time I wash the car), apart from last 10mm on the passenger side, so I hope I can (very carefully) remove this and gain access to the scuttle screws without having to place undue force on the screen/frame.
8. After everyones advice and help I think I may be able to remove the scuttle to gain the access necessary.
9.
I also think I'd like to remove the wiper mechanism, but does this use regular nuts and bolt or torx bolts? I have torx screwdriver, but not a torx socket set.10. The leak stops when you turn off the climate control and starts again when you turn it on. I can see its not coming from the heater matrix as its not coming inside the car or out of the AC drain pipes. I can also see the water dripping high-up from the location of the HBV.
11. I'm going to order a HBV from e-bay as they are inexpensive. Would you trust this IS a genuine part?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305035550568?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338986375&customid=Cj0KCQjwx5qoBhDyARIsAPbMagAn6FHrn5Zc_HxrChfkSPlFIb8rgBPq81vHuFpT81QxKFTecY59rPcaAu5rEALw_wcB&toolid=20006I really appreciate everyones comments, and it's great to see how passionate everyone is about their Omegas. Everyone has different views in life. I'm pleased to get everyones opinion and then I can then make my own decision. Everyones personal experience gives their individual view weight which is great. However, in life we can't all agree all the time and there is nothing wrong with that.
Finally my Mum and Dad once bought a manual 1987 Vauxhall Senator 3.0 which was an ex-Leicestershire Constabulary motorway car. It was the best car we could afford at the time. Ex-police cars were cheap(er). It was a great car, but it was far from perfect. A previous front-on collision must have split the battery at some point in its past and the acid rotted the chassis from the inside. But it was great while it lasted. You could pull away from a stop in third! I wouldn't buy another ex-cop car though, it was too rough around the edges.
Thanks once again to everyone for taking the time to respond to my post.
Have a great weekend.
Kind regards,
Gary