Specs on heating element

My extruder is being finicky. A loose wire somewhere around it, it keeps shutting off and then I poke it and it turns back on, or give it a wiggle and it goes back and forth.
So I'm looking to get a new one, but I'm not sure exactly what "size" to get, there seems to be a few different power levels. I'm assuming (hopefully correctly) that they're all the same physical size, the difference appears to only be in the wattage. So what do I need here?
Thanks!

 

How new is your printer? Do you have a cartridge heater or a resistance heater?

 

I've had it since November, so 7 months. It is a a resistance heater, I believe. I didn't even know of the existence of these "cartridge" heaters. Are they worth investigating as a replacement?

 

They're just a different style of heating element. I don't know much details about the old j-head heater, nor if it's even possible to remove it. I don't think it's held in mechanically so I'm not sure how you'd replace it.

 

It's just a hole through the extruder, the heater is a tight fit but can be slid out and replaced, looks like so: http://reprap.org/wiki/File:Jhn_mk5.jpg
A replacement can be purchased for under $10, I just want to make sure I'm getting something that'll heat up properly without blowing up the board drawing too much power.

 

I would estimate around 12v and 20W. Lemme go measure mine for you.

 

I measured 7.8ohms resistance and it's 4.65mm OD by 16mm long

Around 18W at 12v

 

Cool. Thanks a lot.
Ordered. Now I just wait a few weeks for delivery...