Help!! 96 jetta 2.0 no start problem

I have a 96 jetta 2.0 5 speed. you can crank the engine over till the battery goes dead and it will not start but, if I pop start it. It starts as soon as the engine turns over. Any ideas?:banghead:

I assume by "pop start" you mean rolling it and then releasing the clutch. When you crank with the battery does it sound normal...as a engine turning over? How fast does it crank?

When I crank it with the battery it sounds normal. It doesnt crank too fast like a timing belt problem, and I have tried another battery in it just in case the one that was in it is too low. When I crank the engine over it has spark from the coil but the engine will not fire over but as soon as I coast the car forward and pop the clutch and the engine turns over 1 time it starts.

sounds like the starter has too much amperage or voltage draw and it kills the battery when normal cranking starting but when pop starting the starter doesnt have to crank as long and doesnt draw as much battery power.

use a volt meter and put one lead on the battery pos terminal and one lead on the starter terminal where the cable goes to and have someone crank it over. It shouldnt be more than .5v or so, if it is than the cable is bad. check the amperage draw and comapre it to specs, i dont know what they are but you could find out in a haynes manual or chiltons.