Timing belts

Take off the distributer cap and see if the rotor turns when cranking. If not replace the timing belt. It is a tough job if you have never done it.

Be sure and check if you are missing fuel or spark before you try and tear the engine down.

you need 3 things to make an engine run, spark, fuel and compression chek for spark by removing a plug and grounding it on the radiator suport and have some one turn the engine over while you look at the plug if there is spark your ok if no spark than remove the dist. cap and have them turn the engine over again see if the rotor is moving if not than it will be the timing belt ( if that is it I can talk you through that job and send you needed info) then you should have a fuel pressure fitting on the fuel rail re move cap slowly see if fuel starts to leak out(do not remove) than if you know anyone with a compression tester see if you can borrow it the compression should be about 140 psi give or take 10 psi (the car needs over 90 psi to run)

I agree with JNOVACK about verifying bad compomenst that will cause a no start condition.

I do take exception to "grounding" a plug wire to see if there is spark. You could and people often do damage any of the firing components by causing an impedence mis-match resulting in an ignition failure. I have seen a distributer cap blown completely off from grounding a plug wire.

The best and only inexpensive way is to buy a test plug from any parts store. Insert it into the plug wire ground the end with a provided clip. You can easily see the fire and the test plug has internal resistance to make the ignition sytem thing it has a plug installed.

It is an easy, clean and safe way to check for spark.
way to verify spark.

As a note, VW engines are not close tolerance except the diesel engines so if the timig belt is bad there will be no damage. Fuel pump, external to the tank and adjoining filter are high failure VW items.

Good Luck

Losone

I didn't mean the plug wire just the plug it self

I agree losone i ment test plug not ground sorry