Yep, I expected you would find the problem in the engine compartment
rather than up front. Ground point #12 seemed like a likely candidate.
VW chose to put many important grounds on the one spot. A careful
cleaning and tightening might be a wise move for all waterboxer owners.
1.9 models have a similar vital ground point on the top of the left head
where it is more subject to heat, vibration, and corrosion.

Here is a list of items that share that one grounding bolt on 2.1
models.

fuel pump
ECU relay
OX2 heater
temp gauge sender
coolant level sensor
crankcase vent heating element
brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, lic plate lights

On 1.9 models it's tied to these.

ECU
ECU relay
Temp 2 sensor
idle and throttle switches
aux air regulator
temp gauge sender
coolant level sensor

Wheezerboxer motors have it too but I don't do those anymore.

Mark

"Filcoff, David M." wrote:
>
> Thanks for the tip, while disconnecting the black wires I bumped the ground connection located on the sheetmetal under the coil, the idle stabilizer valve shut off for a second and the fuel pump primed.  So I cleaned up the connections, replaced the rusty bolt with a new one and the problem is gone.
>
> Dave