[SZonian]

If beating on the fuel tank gets it to start occasionally, it sounds like the fuel pump in the tank may be fritzed. Many fuel injected vehicles have two fuel pumps, a low pressure in the tank and a high pressure close to the engine. If you’ve already changed the high pressure pump (closest to the engine) it may be that the low pressure pump isn’t getting the fuel to the high pressure pump.

It’s more common than folks may realize.

Good luck...

SZ

[de.rm]

Yes, switch out the tank fuel pump, but not before checking for cold start fuel injectors.

Don't know if you have them on that car, gut I had same symptoms that were solve by fixing the cold start fuel injector.

Also put the car model & problem into google &/or youtube search, your bound to come up with some good info.

Your not the first one with this problem on that model or close to it.

Many are becoming into keeping the old rigs running ("gee, I wonder why?") and putting useful info on the "interweb" to help others.

[usconservative]

If beating on the fuel tank gets it to start occasionally, it sounds like the fuel pump in the tank may be fritzed. Many fuel injected vehicles have two fuel pumps, a low pressure in the tank and a high pressure close to the engine. If you’ve already changed the high pressure pump (closest to the engine) it may be that the low pressure pump isn’t getting the fuel to the high pressure pump.

Bingo. That'd be my guess as well. Went through a similar problem with a '94 Ford Thunderbird. Had to replace the fuel pump in the gas tank, what a pain in the arse that was.....