My 1998 vw jetta 2.0 manual will start occassionally then die if i try to put it in to first gear but I can reverse without it dying just fine OR the engine will turn over but no start this problem started after my boyfriend sprayed water into my tailpipe with a garden hose, but he did not put it in the tailpipe he sprayed from a distance (car was not running)

SOURCE: 1998 vw jetta trunk key locked inside,is ther a latch?

there is a button to pop the trunk,  when u lift the little compartment between the two front seats... took me a while to find it myself lol

SOURCE: steps for replacing wiper motor for 1998 VW Jetta

remove wipers. remove plastic covering by loosening plastic screws first. unplug wiper motor wires. there are about three 10mm nuts at the motor location and you also have to unscrew the big nuts that were below the wipers when you unscrewed them. replacement is reversal.

SOURCE: My 1998 VW Jetta GL - Ignition Switch

It could just be out of adjustment. I recommend going to a dealership for the part. The VIN number should identify your car specs exactly to avoid getting the wrong part

SOURCE: 2000 2.0 vw beetle starts then dies

computer possibly has noticed a reason to shut down engine try checing the oil low oil psi will cause the computer to shut down engine before damage occurs

SOURCE: 1998 vw jetta turns over but won't start check engine light on

The coil pack on these are bad about being defective. You need to check to see if you have power coming from your coil pack. If you do not try changing it out, this produces 60k +/- volts that goes through your ignition wires, to your spark plugs and ignites the gas on combustion with the piston. If it's not giving off a spark, thenyou're not getting power to fire off the engine.