Electric is not the same as electronic, a lesson between terminals and sparks

Mechanic repairing a GTI engine with sparks, wearing gloves and cap, in a garage. Exploding components depicted.

For a couple of weeks, the GTI began showing intermittent issues that at first seemed like quirks of an old car. Sometimes it struggled to start, other times the lights would flicker slightly, and occasionally the dashboard voltmeter would show a lower reading than usual. Nothing dramatic, but enough to make you frown while driving. […]