newbie question

[a2jet]

With the recent addition of a 1988 jetta 8v Wolfsburg to the family of MOPARs I am rather new to the world of Volkswagen (one of those always looking people though)
There's one thing I am having trouble on figuring out.

How do I know if my car is GL?
I have already figured out that GLi means and a GL with fuel injection etc.
But what is the diffrence between a GL and just a normal VW?

I found this site through a link on cardomain and have visited vortex, jettaowners, etc. bascially every VW forum on the net, but I keep coming back here.

While we're at it, is there any thing else that I should know 8)

[GoodDayForADrive]

GL is just the base model, (base trim, etc)

[Slalom]

theres lots to know a2jet... GoodDay is right, the GL was just the base trim of the Jetta line... GLI however was a sport trim, the i didnt mean that it had fuel injection, every mk2 VW sold in north america had fuel injection

[miamiDaveGLi]

Vehicle Indentification Number
DIGIT: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
---------------------------------
EXAMPLE: W V W D B 4 5 0 5 L K 2 4 5 6 7 8
---------------------------------
WMI.. VDS........ VIS............

WMI = World Manufacture Index
VDS = Vehicle Descriptor Section
VIS = Vehicle Identifier Section

1 - Manufacturing Country
W - Germany
1 - USA
3 - Mexico
9 - Brazil

2 - Manufacturer
B - VW of Brazil
V - Volkswagen

3 - Vehicle Type
1 - Pickup
2 - MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle)
W - Passenger Car

4 - Series
1987 - 93 Fox
A - 2 Door Basic
B - 2 Door Economy
C - 2 Door Custom
D - 2 Door Wagon
G - 4 Door Custom

1985-95 Golf
B - 2 Door Custom
D - 2 Door Sport
D - 2 Door GTi
F - 4 Door Custom
H - 2 Door GTi 16V
K - 4 Door Golf III

1985-95 Jetta
K - 2 Door Base
M - 2 Door Custom
P - 4 Door Base
R - 4 Door Custom GL / Caret / Economy
S - 4 Door GLS / CustomT - 4 Door GLI / GLX

1983-95 Rabbit / Cabriolet
A - 2 Door Base
B - 2 Door Custom (1992-93)
C - 2 Door Custom (1983-91)
D - 2 Door Carat
E - 2 Door Etienne Aigner

1983-88 Quantum
A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe
D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport
E - 1983-88 4 Door Basic
F - 1983-88 4 Door Custom
G - 1983-88 4 Door Deluxe 1983-88

Scirocco (USA) 1983-89 Scirocco (Canada)
A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic (USA)
A - 1983-89 2 Door Basic (Canada)
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom (USA)
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom (CAnada)
C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe (USA)
C - 1983-89 2 Door Deluxe (Canada)
D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport (USA)
D - 1983-89 2 Door Sport (Canada)
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom (USA)
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom (Canada) 1990-94

Corrado(USA)
D - 1990-92 2 Door Sport
E - 1992-94 2 Door SLC 1995

Corrado (Canada)
E - 1995 2 Door SLC

1983--92 Vanagon
X - 1983-88 Kombi
Y - 1983-92 Bus (Vanagon)
Z - 1983-92 Camper

1992-95 EuroVan
H - EuroVan CL
K - EuroVan GL

1990-95 Passat
C - 4 Door GLS
D - 4 Door Wagon GLS
E - 4 Door GLXF - 4 Door Wagon GLX
F - 4 Door Custom GL
G - 4 Door Wagon GL
H - 4 Door Base
J - 4 Door Deluxe GLX / GLS
N - 4 Door Wagon Custom GLX

5 - Engine
Contact Dealer for Detailed Engine Information

6 - Restraint System
0 - Active
2 - Passive w/Man Lap Belt
4 - "ELRA"
5 - Active Belts w/Driver Air Bag
8 - Active Belts w/Dual Air Bags
9 - Passive

7-8 Model
15 - 1983-93 Convertible, Cabriolet
16 - 1983-88 Jetta
17 - 1980?-92 Rabbit, Pickup, Golf, GTi
1C - New Beetle
1E - 1995 Cabrio
1G - 1989-92 Golf / Jetta
1H - 1993-95 Golf / Jetta
24 - VW Transporter (Pickup and Multivan)
25 - 1983-92 Vanagon, Transporter Van
30 - 1987-93 Fox
31 - 1990-95 Passat
32 - 1983-88 Quantum 2 Door and 4 Door
33 - 1985-88 Quantum Station Wagon and Quattro
3A - 1995 Passat
43 - Audi 5000 / older
44 - Audi 5000/100/200/V8
4A - Audi S4/100CS/V8
50 - 1990-95 Corrado
53 - 1983-88 Scirocco
60 - 1994-95 Corrado
70 - EuroVan
78 - Passat?
81 - Audi 4000
83 - Audi 4000
85 - Audi Coupe GT
89 - Audi 90
8A - Audi 90
8B - Audi Coupe

9 - VIN Check Digit
Manufacturer's Internal Code

10 - Vehicle Model Year
D - 1983
E - 1984
F - 1985
G - 1986
H - 1987
J - 1988
K - 1989
L - 1990
M - 1991
N - 1992
P - 1993
R - 1994
S - 1995
T - 1996
V - 1997
W - 1998
X - 1999
Y - 2000
1 - 2001
2 - 2002

11 - Assembly Plant
A - Ingolstadt
B - Brussels
E - Emden
G - Graz
H - Hanover
K - Osnabruck
M - Mexico
N - Neckarsulm
P - Brazil
S - Stuttgart
V - Westmoreland, PA, USA
W - Wolfsburg
Y - Spain (SEAT)

12 - 17 Serial Number
Sequential Production Number
hopefully this helps a bit


8)

[a2jet]

Thanks for all of the help.
One more thing, the carfax report(had to do it) says that the engine is a 1.8 L4 MFI/FI, whats the L4 MFI/FI? Does FI mean fuel injection? which would make sense since someone said that all VW's were fuel injected.

[Slalom]

Thanks for all of the help.
One more thing, the carfax report(had to do it) says that the engine is a 1.8 L4 MFI/FI, whats the L4 MFI/FI? Does FI mean fuel injection? which would make sense since someone said that all VW's were fuel injected.

that someone was me :D
yes FI means fuel injection...

[miamiDaveGLi]

and the mfi is multiport fuel injection .. i think correct me if im wrong.

[jettadude]

mech, FI. it its a general thing for all A2 vw's they just mark all the fuel systems for that generation. your car is a jetta GL, 1.8 8V with digi 2 fuel injection. that means it is all computer controlled, that is good and bad. they are a bitch to work with. im messed with my fuel system enough to know what not to touch and to hate the thing to hell. your worse enemys will be yoru O2 sensor, coolant temp sensor, throttle postion sensors. these are the sensors that go bad and cause your car to do some freaky stuff. and the O2 sensors go bad like crazy on these things to be prepared to change in every 50,000 miles if your lucky. if you got any ?'s fell free to drop me a line PM,AIM,Email whatever or post and youll get some of the best info quick. welcome to dubnet and goodluck.

[sausageburner]

GL's come with a sunroof, base models dont... Thats pretty much the only difference, unless base models dont come with power steering or brakes?

[burn_your_money]

My base model 85 doesn't come with power steering but I think it has power brakes

[jettadude]

no GL's didn't come with sunroofs, i have a 88GL and i have power stearing, power breaks, and A/C. i don't know if the pre 90 Jetta GL's had the sunroof option.

[a2jet]

well my car has a sunroof and a/c but no power steering and no power breaks.

[Slalom]

well my car has a sunroof and a/c but no power steering and no power breaks.

you have power brakes...

[burn_your_money]

All VWs prior to the 1980 (or earlier) came with power brakes didn't they?

[jettadude]

yea all of our cars have power breaks. it is just listed as a option. lol. but that is odd, that you have sunroof and a/c but no PS.

[miamiDaveGLi]

8O yes very strange. get us some pictures man! we love new photos :D
love to see it !