Trouble finding a 2¼" x 14" immersion heater element.

[Julian]

So there must be some sort of contact/sprung connection between the heater element and the white body.

You could try using a meter to check the continuity from live to neutral across all the contacts.  Don't know if it's the angle of the photo, but in the last picture it looks like the contact to the left of the knurled nut may be bent.

The holes in the cap marked 1 and 2 look like they could be test points for making contact with the two brass lugs sticking up above the whit lever.  You could check for voltage across them with the cap in place.  If you know there's power to the unit and have checked the continuity of the element, if there's no voltage that would narrow the problem down to the contacts or thermostat.  If there is voltage it must be the contacts/connections between the white body and the element.

Again, it would be a lot easier to help if I could see it in person.

[neisel]

Julian,

I'll be down your way Sunday week, possibly earlier, & can drop it off, leave it with you or whatever you like. No rush at my end so if you can find the time to have a look that'd be great.

Would that be OK?

[Julian]

Be happy to have a look at it.  Probably won't take long to work out what's wrong … just give me a ring the day before.