Starter goes, car won't start. Fuel pump?

Hi folks. Drove out to the mother-in law's house this afternoon. All fine. Family was packed and ready for home but the car won't go. It actually started up very briefly and then puttered out. Starter is turning but the engine won't fire. There's petrol in the tank. 
If I'm not hearing anything when the key turns to the first position am I right in concluding the fuel pump has died? 

Had a coolant blow out the other day and just drained and filled it last night. Is that likely to effect the fuel pump in any way? 

Many thanks for any suggestions you have. 

No, if you don't hear either fuel pump I suggest that you remove the Fuel Pump relay and use the horn relay in it's place as a test to see if it is the Fuel pump relay or the pumps.

On your drive over to the visit was there a high pitched Whine from the rear Drivers side wheel arch?  Yes you would hear it over your kids.  

That would suggest that you had an in-tank failure if your have CIS.  

So a little testing is in your future before you glad handle replacing parts that may be good.  Over here on this side of the pond the CIS fueled cars usually carry a spare fuel pump relay in the glove box, this isn't an issue with the Digifants as they use a standard relay in place of the CIS fuel pump relay.

Thanks Briano. Didn't hear any whining, (at least not from the car) I'll have a look at the relays and see what I find. 

Yep, it's the relay. Got the horn relay swapped and it started fine. Can I drive it home on that or will I wreck something? 

theCrowe said

Yep, it's the relay. Got the horn relay swapped and it started fine. Can I drive it home on that or will I wreck something? 

Fine to drive it home, only issue is if you have an accident the pump won't cut out until you turn off ignition.

Home safe and car back in the garage til i can get a new relay on it. (no spare in the glove box)

Many thanks to both of you. Total life savers.  Looking at the old relay it's an VW Original 62. An original relay like that is costing double what some of the other makes are looking.

Any harm in getting two Huco relays for the price of an original?

thanks again guys. Yous really saved a bank holiday weekend.

Not all fuel pump relays are the same, see www.cabby-info.com for hte correct versions that won't cause you headaches later on.

for testing/bypass I recommend a 17/18/100 relay, as it has the correct larger sized main terminals for the fuel relay socket

kraker also decent make if you can find one, you can use any of these (VW number, VW part number, kraker part number, gsf part number)
2 = 443906059A/321906059D/E = no limiter (superceeded by 321906059F)
3 = 443906059 = no limiter (superceeded by 321906059E/F)
62 = 443907385B/321906059G / 24.1400.30 & 3.300.220 / ? = 6.5k limiter
63 = 321906059F / 24.1400.20 & 3.300.210 / 935VG0090 = no limiter

obviously non-limiter has no limiter in, wouldn't bother me but if it does you then can swap a rev limiter rotor arm over