Help! My car cut out yesterday and now wont start again.

Hi peeps. I have a 1982 golf 1600. she has been running almost fine for the past two months. Yesterday on my way to work however (1 mile journey) travelling at around 30mph she started to cough and splutter then cut out. The fuel level was very low and i think its  likely this was the cause of the problem. However after fuelling up (5litres) she will not start. I have turned her over and over with no luck. Also had a friend tow me around the block several times to try and bump her to no avail. My first thoughts were fuel blockage/airlock? But a friend also suggested coil or fuel pump could be causing the problem.                                                                                                                            
If anyone here has had similair problems, or have any ideas of most likely causes please enlighten me!
In the past two months the things I've replaced are - Battery, plugs, points, condenser and rotor arm.
She had been starting first/second time every time, even on the coldest of mornings but was ticking over at 2000rpm until warmed up then would drop to around 900.      The only other promblem I've noticed which happened maybe four days ago was while on the motorway if I really burried my foot down, once close to top speed the car would surge/ slow down a little then pick back up again (perhaps as if not enough fuel was getting through?)  Not sure if it could be related but thought worth mentioning.           I hope someone

can help.
Many thanks Tom.

with the kangaroo hoping at high speed I would say you have a fuel line blocked.  The fuel sender out from under the rear seat and see what sort of muck is floating around.  Is it a carb or injection?

Okay thanks, will give that a shot.
It's running on the original pierburg carb.

ahh, in that case, check for crud in tank, check fuel filter in engine bay aint clogged, then check out this:

Pierburg checks

and check everything with the carb is ok, can be tricky little **** to get running right!

I thought mind was a fuel problem, but turned out to be the timing belt

Okay so i've just had the car towed home and am able to start work.
I have located the fuel filter in engine bay but how can I tell wether its blocked? It is around three quarters full at the moment, but unable to see if the fuels clean or not.

Also which direction do you turn the sender cap to remove it? I have tried both ways and it is very tight, any tips for getting the little ****** off? There is an arrow pointing clockwise but no indication if this is to tighten or loosen!!

I have managed to remove the fuel sender this morning. There was a small amount of crud on the tiny filter at end of the sender pick up pipe, but i wouldnt of said enough to stop flow. I have cleaned and replaced. I am still unsure of how to check my fuel filter in engine bay can someone please give me a clue? I have tried googling and found nothing. Also how can I check my fuel pump? I've read you should be able to hear it. Should it be audible on first stage of ignition? As I've just tried this, walked all around the car and can hear nothing.

I had a similar problem once the car cut out as i drove into a car park and wouldn't start again, after a lot of messing about i noticed that the fuel pump relay was clicking more than normal when i turned the ignition on. I pulled the relay and cleaned the ends put it back and it fired straight up no problem. Very annoying after spending ages under the bonnet messing about.

Just replaced the fuel filter in engine bay, after turning over it has filled up and a strong smell of fuel so I know its getting through. Just checked for a spark and nothing. Checked points, leads etc and all seem good and have only just been replaced. What is the next stage of finding the problem any ideas?

have you pulled th fuel pump relay and checked the pins? it effects more than just the fuel pump.

Have you got power going in and out of the coil or have you just checked the spark plug end?

I have only checked the spark plug end, is their a way of checking current to and from the coil without a volt meter?  No I haven't checked the fule pump relay, is this one of the blocks above the fuseboard in passengers footwell? If so do you have any idea which one? Thanks.

If you goggle coil testing you will get a youtube video that should help you out if you dont have a mulitimeter.

There is a sticky thread in the electrical bit of the forum that has a relay layout on it, Im not sure about the 1600 but on the gti its a big relay. It wouldn't take much to pull them one by one and check the pins on all of them anyway just to be sure.