Ford Ka heater control valve change - Advice

[gumby6371]

Evening all,

Looks like the heater control valve has seized in the closed position on the sister in laws Ka.

A quick google shows it to be a common fault on the Ka, fiesta, puma etc...

All the comments point towards fitting OE replacements as ebay ones are crap and to do a coolant flush at the same time.
Just wanted to check if its sound advice and any tips/pitfalls to avoid from anyone who's changed one before.

Thanks in advance for any responses

[Welly]

I remember my Father in Law changing one on a Fiesta, he's about as competent with tools as a chimpanzee and managed it ok. From what I gathered you sort of 'snatch it' i.e. pull the old one (it's a straight-through valve with hose either side) and quickly bosh the new one in and top up any lost coolant.........what could possibly go wrong?

[jasper5]

Yes, it's a very simple job.

[lozz]

Find an early ford Ka/ford festa in scrap yard
and grab HCV off one of them.

the later HCV pattern part..is junk.
ihad this problem with the ford ka ihad.

brandnew one..started to tick & click just after a few weeks, replaced with early one off junked ford ka & all was well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyl5cCOvIis