94 Taurus no start problem-fuel puimp?

I have a 94 taurus 3.0 that would not start the other day. I checked coil, wires, plugs etc and found spark to the plugs. I could hear the fuel pump when I turned the key to on. When I pulled the plugs right after cranking it they looked dry. I checked the pressure/air relief valve right up by the engine and fuel spilled out when I depressed the valve. I kept it compressed and turned on the key and fuel squirted out. I tried to start it again and it started right up. It started and ran fine for two days...then this morning it would start and stall right away. I went through the procedure again with the valve and again it started right up and is running fine for now. Does this sound like a fuel pump problem or fuel filter?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Go for the fuel filter first. It's a regular maintenance item anyway, sounds like you are on the right track though. I would say that from the testing that you did so far, your fuel pump will prob not be the problem, but I could be wrong.

I believe worthit_99 is on target. Under ideal conditions, meaning you get clean fuel, the fuel filter should be changed every 30K miles. Problem is, we don't know what we're pumping in our tanks and what the "clean level" is and if you get one tank of dirty fuel it could easily clog the filter. I never changed a Taurus fuel pump but an old Mustang had the pump in the gas tank and there was a sort of gauze filter on the pump intake. First, change the in-line fuel filter and see if that cures it and if not then let's look elsewhere. Take the old filter and shake it in a container and see what comes out and if it's cruddy then you found the problem.

I don't own oil stocks but some gas stations have a filter in the pump line, they call it, "double filtered fuel" and if it's convenient and thrifty I'd partonize those.

You could pick up a fuel pressure guage for around $10 at the chain auto parts store and get a good feel for the fuel pressure. If the pressure is low, then you change your fuel filter and the pressure if right on, you should be good. However, if you have low fuel pressure following filter replacement, it's probably time for a new fuel pump. If your '94 has the original fuel pump, you've received you money's worth out of it.

One other check could be to turn the key on, but don't crank the engine. Then turn the key off for 15 seconds, then back on, pause, and crank. If the engine starts up reliably when following this procedure, chances are your fuel pressure is low. Could be pump or simply a filter.

Can you easily hear your fuel pump running while standing outside your car, or even inside with the windows closed? If so, that's a sign of a tired pump as well.

As has been mentioned above, a fuel filter is a regular maintenance item and certainly should be replaced anyway. It won't be a waste of your $6.

-Rod

Update!
I replaced the fuel filter about a month ago and the car started fine until about a week ago when it wouldn't start again. It would start momentarily and then stall. I discovered that holding the accelerator down about half way or pumping it while cranking, it will start, roughly at first but smooths out quickly. I can turn it off and start it again after that without depressing the accelerator again. After the one time issue last week it started fine again with just the normal turning the key on until the fuel pump does it's job and then cranking the engine, until this morning. Again I was able to get it started by depressing/pumping the accel. It has started fine after that. Could I be looking at a clogged injector possibly?

Yeah, sounds like you might have an injector issue, TPS issue, or possibly an IAC issue.

-Rod