Oily heating plugs

The first thing to check is that the heater plugs really are getting power to them. Your non starting symptoms sound as if the control relay is not working. You would need a voltmeter, or a 12 volt test lamp which you can connect between the engine block and the terminal on the end of any heater plug. Then, when you turn them on you should see probably between 10 and 12 volts, or the light should illuminate quite brightly. As far as the oil in the intercooler is concerned, this is from the engine breather, which feeds into the aircleaner box, or near to it, part of the emission control system. It means that there is some blow-by past the piston rings, pressurising the crankcase. Don't worry too much about it. Brian.

Thanks, Brian. I'll check the control relay and take it from there. Would my heating light on the dashboard still light up even if the control relay is not working? Also are the gritty oily plugs nothing to worry about? The last ones I removed were oil free but had blackened / sooty tips. I guess my constant attempts at starting could leave them coated in unburned diesel. I'm very much an amateur at this stuff - if it has more than 2 spanners next to a job in the Haynes manual I take it to a garage. Is replacing the control relay a big job?

No to replace the control relay will only take you about 10 mins to fit.and i found a good place to get one was french spares,they are very helpful.web site is