Intermittent won't start

[jinxdoc]

Hope this thing isn't too old to talk about. Brand new to Passats. '96 2.0L 5speed. Had this thing three weeks maybe. Twice now it wouldn't start. Once after topping off coolant reservoir(spilled a little. The car was idling, I heard what sounded like two distinct spark snaps near the reservoir?, it stalled and wouldn't start for 5 or 10 minutes)and another on a really rainy day.All I know this time is it wouldn't start for at least 2 hours. Not sure if it stalled first or not since I wasn't driving and the driver cuaght a ride and left town. Seemed to have spark when I got there. Wasn't sure how to check for fuel at the time so i had it towed home and voila, it started up. Kinda hard to trouble shoot when it won't stay broke. Any ideas out there about Passats I should know about? Thanks, Steve