Hi Darren & Glyn! Am not too bad now thanks - the cold has gone! Hope you're both ready for xmas etc!

Will have a look at the throttle body but it might be worth knowing a bit more about the car's history...

This car has come via a friend of the family from South London who previously have been taking it to their local VW dealer. Here's a list of what it has had so far:

- EML on at 7,340 miles (Apr 04): No faults found but ECU updated!
- EML on at 17,405 miles (August 08): Found that oil was over-excessively filled. So it was drained and replaced. At the same time the vehicle speed sensor was replaced.
- Cam-belt replaced at 30,000 miles (May 07).
- EML on at 37,215 miles (April 08): EGR fault found. Throttle body cleaned and EGR valve fitted.
- EML on at 39,743 miles (August 08): MAP replaced.
- EML on again! (August 08): Throttle body cleaned & basic setting performed.
- EML on... (August 08): Compressions checked, they suggest it is low on cylinder 1 and suspect valve seats, requiring removal of cylinder head etc.

This is the point at which we have been given the car. We have checked compressions and can't see that no. 1 is low! Hence this is why I wanted to start checking engine timing etc.

You can't believe how much they have spent on the car up to this point! On the plus side I suppose we can have a good guess at what isn't causing the problem!

Cheers,
Barney.