Thank you so much for replying!

ive been at it all bloody day and not got any closer.. in fact almost had a total failure. So the hose connected to the top of the PCV was indeed faulty, it was quite old and had heated up against something hot near the intake which had caused a hole in the pipe. I am going to replace this but have taped it up temporarily - thoroughly with electrical tape.

one question:- the pipe coming from the underside of the PCV as you look at it from the top of the engine - the thicker pipe - that was caked in oil so I shook it a bit to see where it was connected to and it came off in my hand. As though it was not connected to anything at all. However there is a rubber grommet (or what is left of it) attached to that end and I have NO IDEA where on earth the other end of this pipe is supposed to go to! I have not had any change since reassembly and the car is still running - albeit with the same problems. The Haynes manual does not show me where this end of the pipe should go back to?! Would you happen to know?

I have had the alternator off as it seemed to come from the left of that, but, even with that exposed I can’t see the end of the pipe. The natural shape of this hose seems to suggest it comes from the rear of the manifold but there is nothing obvious.. Is it possible this is the vacuum leak?? Although wouldn’t the car be stalling due to the leanness of the mixture?

with regards to the idle problem I am having I have seen a few people suggesting the VSS but I have no yet located it (I am trying to find the part by sight on the car)…. But this does seem to be the solution most often come across.

would unplugging the VSS leave me without speedo being functional?

sorry for the long essay type post but I just want my car to work and money is so tight!

thanks.