fuel pump intermittent?

Last week 98 mailbu wouldnt start

Initaily, car fired, then stalled backing out of the parking space. I tried to start again...no go. I noticed that I didn't hear the fuel pump spin up, as I normally do. [2-second whirring sound while the ignition is in the run position prior to engaginging the starter]. Tried twice more. Checked fuse, tapped relay, still no go.

So we go back into the store, call a tow-truck. Half an hour latter we come out to meet the tow truck...guess what? The fuel pump spins up, engine fires, and we drive it home.

I parked it in the garage for now. I don't need the headache of paying for a possible tow home. Carpooling with my wife to work.

1998 Malibu. 102000 miles ambient temp 20 F. Can the fuel elelctric pumps be intermittent on startup? or is it a case of a malfunctioning sensor

fuel pumps can become intermittent. They are motors and they can lose continuity, polarization, or just plain wear out. If you have a shop manual it should tell you the amperage draw of the fuel pump. You could jumper an ammeter in place of the fuse and see how much its drawing. If its out of spec by an extra 10% or so, replace it. The next time it fails on you, check it again. If you get zero draw, most likely its a loose wire. If you get extra draw, most likely the motor is fried.