96 Firebird Hard-starting

Hey folks, it's been awhile, but I could really use some help.

My 96 has been hard starting for about 4 months now. It's not unbearable and my mechanic says that nothing is being damaged, but I want to get a remote start installed for winter, so I'd like this to work correctly.

My spark plugs and fuel filter are new and clean, says my mechanic, but he says that my fuel pressure is too low. Now he wants to replace my fuel pump. He wants my car for two days and about 750 of my precious, precious dollars for the job.

I'm wary for a few reasons: When I first got the car, he said that the fuel pump would probably fail, and that it would be costly to replace it. I'm worried because it seems that he just wants an excuse to do the job. I can understand that because most of that $750 is labor and therefore almost entirely profit.

Also, I'm overdue for an oil change by about 2,000 miles. Could it be something as simple as that?

Any help that you could offer me would be great. Thanks in advance!

Dan

Its not a oil change and yes , low fuel pressure will most certainly cause a hard start issue. Which is exactly what my car was doing just before I changed my Fuel pump and I can tell you its a bitch to do unless you cut a hole in your trunk area which alot of people do but I didn't want to go that route but its a pretty major job and this is coming from someone that swapped his engine twice. I don't know if its 750 bucks labor , a bitch but I would think definetly around 600 or so and unfortunetly if you want to get rid of the hard start, got to get a new pump. Also, I would upgrade to a walbro 255lph unit though, its 99.00 shipped on ebay and is a much more dependable stronger unit than the stock one.

Not what I wanted to hear, but at least I got a second opinion that confirms it. Thanks for the help...it's much appreciated.