fuel pump bad?

[stephen cowart]

I have a 2002 sport trac, 4-door, 2wd. I had the classic crank/no start symptom of a bad fuel pump, I hit the gas tank with a rubber mallet,and it started right up.The next morning it would not start,so I hit it again and it started right up,came home that afternoon and it started right up,this morning it started right up.How can I tell if the fuel pump is truly bad or going bad? Thanks Stephen C.

 

[Backwoods "X"]

BEFORE you hit the tank, do you hear the pump try to "prime" at all, or just after the tank gets whacked? Also, how many miles do you have on the 'Trac?

 

[stephen cowart]

It has 102,000 miles. I did not listen to see if the pump primed before I hit the tank.Next time it does'nt start I will listen for that before I hit it.