possible bad fuel pump

if anyone could help me .. my check engine light came on and the car died out.. by the time the mechanic looked at it 2 days later it was running fine... possible fuel pump but the 2 times this happened it was on 1/4 tank of gas ... if i keep the car filled could i run it till i can have it fixed???

easiest way to tell if your fuel pump is bad is when you first turn the key on (engine off) listen towards the back of the car for a humming sound. If you don't hear that sound, your pump is getting ready to or has already gone. With fuel pumps, it doesn't matter what level of fuel you have, if it is messed up, it won't go.