Hi Kev, should'nt be related just one of those things that happens when you need them most. Happened me couple of years ago on my last gti, the motor is up behind the glove box and accessible if you get down in the foot well and get your hand up in, you do need couple of tools and there is a how to on you tube as I used it. The motor are fairly pricey new, so I just got the code of it and got a second hand one from a breaker got it back in and fired up alright, they do seem to seize up from a conversation I had with a vw tech, hope you get sorted.