I believe my pump is not that old too.

The car was fine on short runs but last night on the way down it started to splutter etc...

On the way home....nearer home after a long run, same again.

I need a pump for my mk.2 escort so I will just buy one and try that.

I did re-set the fuel cut out switch, and it did fire up after that, but I did have a length of wire in the car ready and did put the pump to the battery live and that may have kicked the pump back on.