[ChrstphrR]

Even my 2000 has just that injector pump up front, run off the engine - no lift pump in the tank, until 2002. My newer one is like this -- once, and only once, I ran the tank so dry that the fuel filter and half of the lines leading from it to the injector pump were dry.

I'm not sure where the fuel filter is, on the older generation like yours, but, you may want to check, if you haven't, to ensure it's not clogged or full of water. Mine's on the passenger fender, and the feed and return lines to/from the injector pump are about a foot long.

This made it relatively easy for me to fix my no-start issue when I ran the fuel filter dry that one time - popped off the top cap, and funneled in a part bottle of diesel treat, put the cap on, and cranked the car a few times for a minute, or so, and it finally drew the fuel in. I was just lucky that the injector pump didn't lose its prime.

Fundementally, that engine is the same as the ones that were plopped into VWs until 1997. TDIs were from 1998, on, and just had more electronic controls, so yours is really easier to be shadetree mechanic with compared to anything recent.

I'd suggest scouring what you can for info off TDIclub.com Christ... They do have a section for the older diesels... and VERY knowledgeable users. moreso than me, so far my fuelling problems have been solved by luck and remembering something I'd read, or'd been told months before.