Update

Spent a couple of nights working on the GTI. The end result is a much cleaner car with a working wash/wipe system (replacement water bottle and pump) and a new cambelt. The latter was a much longer job than I’d been anticipating because:

• I had to go out and buy a 16mm spanner to loosen the bottom alternator mounting bolt and then persuade the alternator tensioner to untension.
• The cambelt cover upper part bolts had seized
• Everything was filthy and needed cleaning
• And perhaps most importantly I didn’t want to get it wrong

The replacement drivers light turned up for the GTI, so I fitted that and took the car out for a spin. There are still some irritating rattles to try and quell. I’m hoping that they can be remedied without having to take the dash out again. Still trying to source a headlining for it, I’m actually surprised that they’re so hard to find!