Sorry to hear that Dan.
Pre-empting that the lambda probe would need to come out I tried to undo it with a C spanner while I was under there but it didn't budge so decided I'd need to get a lambda probe wrench or socket. While breaking for lunch (3 bacon and 2 egg sarnie) I checked online at Halfords (bicycle peddle), ECP (7 piece kit) and screwfix (a sink) to see who listed either. I tried machine mart who have several but are at least 25 miles away, their store finder said Brighton is only 7 miles.
I jumped in the F and drove to Crawley (8 miles) and checked Halfords and ECP and predictably neither had anything, they did recommend a local factors who are good for tools but pointed out that they were closed on Saturday afternoons.
Dejected I bought some crimp butt terminals from ECP and came home.
I was either going to have to make the spanner work or cut the wires and use a socket.
I didn't want to use a hammer to start the probe moving as the last time I did that, on the F, it took the thread out of the hole which was replacement manifold time!
I offered up the spanner, hit it the wrong way with my fist, hit it the right way with my fist again and it moved.
Brought it indoors and repaired the damaged sections of wire with the butt terminals and went to refit. As it is tight under the car I plugged the probe lead into the loom and lowered it down, got under the car and teased it through only for the plug to separate as the locking tab had dropped off when I undid it.
I repeated plugging from above and the second time managed to get it all refitted.
Time to road test - I only drove about 500 yards before the loop started switching - success - the scangauge temp was only reading 67' at this point so I thought I was on a winner - 4 miles of dual carriage way and still switching - then it went open loop and stayed open loop
.
When I got home I popped the bonnet to see that the plug had separated - today I'll reconnect it and use one of Mrs TCs headbands to hold it together - there are loads around the bathroom and bedroom so I doubt she'll miss one.
Tomorrow is retest - lets see what happens.