Just to update, my small vac hose & larger breather hose on rocker cover look tip-top. Also my idle when looking at the revs barely fluctuates even 50rpm so I guess it's not excessive, it just feels harsher with the juddering that gets transferred through the car as you sit there. Now that I'm used to it it's less disconcerting. I'm itching to change my rocker cover gasket as it's weeping oil but the top bungs are on back order and no sign of them yet :-/ Would rather do them all together. 

Gonna check condition of strip fuses in battery box and clear out the plenum chamber at the weekend. Armed with new clips!

I'm loathe to do anything with the throttle body now I know there's no egr and it's running ok. Plus it's a lengthier task and I can't be arsed. 

Thanks again for the tips.

When you remove the scuttle panel the wipers have to come off and they can be difficult to remove without a wiper arm puller. I had to buy one when I did mine.

 

Good call. Can be bloody awkward without, people have been known to crack their windscreens using inappropriate methods. 

I think that tool (or very similar) is under a tenner, well worth it.

I got this one.

Edited 7 April, 20179 yr by Wino

Thanks for the warning. Cleared out my scuttle area now - got passenger wiper arm off with a small puller I found in garage but it wouldn't fit it on drivers side wiper nut because of the bonnet (in any position). Ended up soaking it in penetrating fluid and coming back to it, then it came off by hand. I found the cover is a pig to get back on properly too! Thankfully got it seated properly all along with a rubber mallet but it took some persuasion! Anyway I don't want to be back under there for a good while now I know there's no crap in there. It was surprisingly clean under there - had I known I wouldn't have bothered! Hey ho...Now I know.