It sounds like your sister is getting unethical advise. I hope she chooses her stock broker better than she chooses her transportation advisor.

This is true. When the strip fuse cracked on my 91 Jetta it would hardly start even when the motor was at 80*F:

1991 vw jetta diesel dead glowplug cold start 408,000 miles - YouTube

The first 2 glow plugs are kind of a pain to get at on the AAZ because of the shape of the injection pump. But it is possible to change them with the pump on.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

After I explained what would happen using starting fluid she agreed that it didnt sound like a good idea. The car was so expensive because its a syncro MK2, its still a rusty pos though. I'm going to check the compression and put new glow plugs in it, hopefully that will get it running better but who knows. It does have the crank pulley problem a little bit, although shortly after she got it it was taken apart and put back together properly.

It is a lot harder to get started than the jetta in that video the way it is, even when its not that cold outside.

The engine in my Jetta was somewhat warm in that video. If it were completely cooled off it would not have started.

Wait, this is a syncro Mk2 not a Mk3???

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Yes, it originally had a gas engine when it was sold in germany, and had the AAZ put in later after someone brought it here.

How bad is the body? Is it a Country model?

Syncros are rare enough it might be worth fixing.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Golf countrys are not allowed to come to the US at all, this is just a regular one. Its rusty by CA standards, but not horrible. Its more just that she has over $8k in it already and doesn't have anything else to drive to work.

Because it's a swap there's no telling how the glow plugs were wired up... I'd get those working properly first and then go from there.

Some pictures of the engine bay might help.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

8k into a rusty golf. Yikes. Thats well over double what I have into my mint 420sel....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Ya, but your 420 isn't a model that was very limited production and never sold in the USA -syncro cars are 4 wheel drive with a fully independent rear suspension.

That said 8k is a lot of dough

-J

Test the glow plugs first before replacing. Take the copper bus off and apply power to each plug via a 20 amp ammeter. If the plug spikes 18 amps and drop to 10 as it heats up it is good. Change only the bad ones.

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Do we even know if the glow system is installed at all? Is the system actually working? Inquiring minds want to know!

__________________
1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

I am honestly not sure if the system is working properly or not. I don't think it did when she bought it, but supposedly it got fixed later. The glow plug light comes on in the gauge cluster now, but other than that I have no idea. I will try to get a pic of the engine next time I'm home when its light outside.

Check timing belt timing (lock cam, lock pump check flywheel), then check injection pump timing with dial indicator set to 1.0mm with cold start cable off, remove injectors and send out for testing be sure to install new heatshields, replace glowplugs, test compression, test glow system and make sure it has the proper fuse etc. Being a swap special anything could be wrong.
Most 1.9 AAZ die from crankshaft gear issues, hard to start was a very good sign something was up (I have a ton of experience with them at all levels dealer to auction specials to engine swaps).
Having a special 12mm wrech that has a pivot point with a rachet box end really helps get the glow plugs out, becareful not to cross thread when going in. You may need to rotate the injection pump to remove injectors on timing belt side. Check all the wiring in the big plug that is on the cylinder head for the engine wiring, common to see green corrossion issues or broken wires leading up to it.
An interesting thought, does the flywheel even have a mark for the diesel TDC? It might not...which could explain a lot!