What could cause my fuel pump to overheat?

I was driving the other day and had a hill start on a medium incline. The car sputtered and came to a halt. About 20 mins later I started again and was able to resume my trip, the car behaving fine.

After snooping around online I am very certain this was due to an overheating fuel pump.

Would anyone know what could have caused it to overheat? I read that this could happen when fuel levels are low, but I had just under 1/2 a tank. Gauge was registering 1/3 on the hill incline.

I did mis-calculate a trip and stupidly got very close to an empty tank a few days before. Could this have damaged it?

The in-tank pump is only about 6 months old, so I am suspecting the main pump which, as far as I know, has never been replaced. Are either more susceptible to overheating than the other?

Many thanks in advance!

I would say first check that your lift pump is working properly, you can do that by disconnecting the supply line to the main pump and priming the system. If nothing comes out then you have a problem in your tank, either a blocked filter or lift pump not working. Also check your electrical connections to the pump, I had fuel pressure issues recently and tracked it down to a corroded main fuse dropping the voltage to the pump.

Isn't the tale of never letting your tank run that low a complete misnomer?  
Surely every drop of fuel drawn from the tank is taken from the lowest point? 

Personally, I'd forget about that theory and focus my efforts elsewhere. Check the filters in any case, but if it's clogged, it won't be as a result of running the tank low. 

Craigt said

Isn't the tale of never letting your tank run that low a complete misnomer?  

I was always told this was bad cause you would be sucking up all the gunk and dregs in the bottom of the tank. But considering the lifter-pump acts like a straw anyway, you're right in that it shouldnt really mater.

I guess the other thing would be it could get damaged if the tanks so low the lifter is sucking air occasionally when you're on a gradient.

When you changed the lift pump in the tank did you replace the rubber fuel hose which connects it to the sender and if so is it the same length as the old one as if it's short the lift pump sits to high in the tank, I know when I change my lift pump it was shorter then the one I took off so had to use a longer bit of hose to get the pump the same height in the tank.
What condition was the hose in as they do rot away living in petrol.

mark1gls said

When you changed the lift pump in the tank did you replace the rubber fuel hose which connects it to the sender and if so is it the same length as the old one as if it's short the lift pump sits to high in the tank, I know when I change my lift pump it was shorter then the one I took off so had to use a longer bit of hose to get the pump the same height in the tank.
What condition was the hose in as they do rot away living in petrol.

No I didnt replace the hose. From what I could see of it, which was just the tip that plugs into the lifter, it seemed in decent condition.

My rubber hose is about 5cm long so your problem could be the lift pump is sitting to high in the tank.
I'll try and find a picture or the measurement from the top of the sender to the filter at the bottom of the lift pump so you can check yours is sitting at the right height.

Found this, it seems the measurement you are looking for is 175mm +- 1mm
I know when I changed my lift pump it was a different size from my old one.

http://workshop-manuals.com/volkswagen/golf-mk1/power_unit/4_cyl_injection_engine_(2_valve)_mechanics/fuel_supply_gas_operation/removing_and_installing_fuel_system_components/renewing_fuel_gauge_sender_fuel_lift_pump_(engine_codes_dx_and_kt_2.84__jh)/