Wrt to your second question, the relay pack for my car (an early one don't forget, '96, chassis number less than 1900) has no discernible digital content whatsoever.

Roverlike: yes hinge wires, I was aware of this issue and have not checked yet. What connected with the engine management goes through this bit of the loom?
None of wires connected with the engine management goes through this bit of loom, however some other wires passing through this bit of loom share the same ground point as engine management circuit. If these wires passing through hinge loom have ground wire compromised, and since one of these wires is ground wire connected to same ground point as engine management circuit, by that connection engine menagement can also be compromised.

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