96/97 fuel pump

hello, im asking this for my neighbor, one time maybe a year or 2 ago she told me car was a 96, just tonight she told me it was a 97, her engine says 3100 sfi on it, thats all i know about this car, moving on the problem: it wont start, i went to look at it and noticed you cant hear the fuel pump when you turn the key, (she has a full tank of gas) so im guessing that is the problem, i was wondering how hard it is to change, im basically wondering if its in the gas tank or if it isnt, and how much it might cost to take it to a local shop and get it fixed (estimate of course), also, every vehicle ive driven you can hear the fuel pump when you turn the key so i would assume the grand am is the same, right?

The pump is inside the tank and you will probably have to drop the tank to get it out to replace it. On some of the later models GM put an access panel inside the trunk. So before doing anything pull the carpet up and look for the panel. If the panel is there simply remove it and you should see the pump, if not the tank will need to be dropped. If you take it to a garage you will pay in the $400 neighborhood to have it replaced.

One way to check to see if it is the pump for sure is to remove the air cleaner hose and spray some starting fluid into the throttle body. If it starts the pump is bad. Also make sure to check the fuel pump relay under the hood in the power control center and the fuel pump fuse before pulling the pump. Good Luck!