96 Passat VR6

Just picked up the car. Know nothing about it except owner said it won't start anymore. Put in new battery, radio says "safe", engine turns over. Is there an anti theft mode, ECM, ACM? Any ideas? Car too nice to junk. Thanks Jeff

There could be many things wrong. Common issue on the vr6 is the timing chains, if the guides failed than the chain skipped a tooth and bent valves. you might have a bad ignition switch, bad ecm, bad antitheft module, ect...