Won't start. Am I missing something?

[ld50]

Hey all.
Well the SUV finally left me stranded without it being something I broke.
Just trying to figure it out right now.

What I know:
-Cranks fine, battery is putting out plenty of juice, all wiring seems okay.
-Have spark as verified by pulling a spark plug and watching it fire
-Can hear fuel pump make it's usual sound when I turn the ignition on
-Checked inertia switch

Some symptoms leading up to no-start:
-Every once in a while, would accelerate, most often through a turn at an intersection, and it would momentarily stall out but catch again. Basically would fall on its face for a second..
-It had sat all winter with occasional start ups, but two weeks ago cleaned the MAF and throttle body with carb cleaner when I noticed the previous symptom. it went away, but yesterday did it twice when I went to a friends.
-Today I was pulling out from a corner and it stalled. I pulled to side of road and tried to start. It almost caught, ran for two seconds at a very low idle, then died and will only turn over.

I got a tow home and am thinking it is a fuel issue, the fuel pump has to be coming up on ten years old, but as a lot of people here know, it is a fairly big job to pull it. I am just wondering if anyone has any tips. I searched and there is some info.
-While typing this I realize I should check for pressure at my fuel rail, I`m gunna do that now. Don't have a gauge but I can push that little valve to see...

 

[ld50]

Well I:
-Swapped relays into the fuel pump relay just for kicks -no go.
-I checked for pressure at the fuel rail by pushing in on the schreader valve, just gives a very slight "tss" then nothing. I've never done that so don't know how much pressure is supposed to be there though.
Kind of leaning towards fuel pump issue here...hmmmm..

 

[Gadget X]

Definitely sounds like a fuel issue. You should have 30 or more psi at the Schrader valve, a lot more than a slight "tss". If you can hear the pump prime when you turn the ignition on, I'm not sure, though. Possibly the sock on the pump is clogged with crud, not letting it suck up any gas.

 

[ld50]

Solved

Replaced the entire fuel pump assembly and filter.
Took two hrs from start of work to running again.
Took probably a full minutes worth of cranking to fill the fuel lines back up but she's running good now. I bled the schreader a couple times thinking it would clear the air out, may have helped, or might not have mattered..

I guess the big thing here is recognizing an impending fuel pump failure by having it momentarily stall out in the few weeks leading up to the event. I also noticed that the new pump is quieter. the old one must have got gradually louder without it being really noticeable.
I believe I last replaced the pump 12 years ago now, so if they say a pump is good for ten years or so, I had a good run on it.

Cost of tow =102$ CDN
Pump assembly and filter =86.25$ CDN
Keeping the dream alive =priceless