Funny story. I had turned the radio off in a 2003 Jetta while I was scanning for DTCs. Owner called me back asking me what happened to the radio.....it did not work anymore. I asked him if he turned it on. lol he hadn't.
I will assume that you had turned it on and it still does not function/turn on.
I think you need those special tools to pull the radio out. I have used steak knives to remove some radios in the '97 Passats, but the correct tool works much faster and easier. ;-)
Usually the older radios have a fuse in the back of the radio. look on ebay at item # 310151494855 you will see a fuse in the back of this radio.