Geo's are picky, like cats. If they don't like you, they'll hiss and scratch at you
lol. 99% of the time, a fuel pump either runs, or it doesn't. You may have a clogged fuel filter. If you know anyone with a A/F gauge, you can see if your car is running lean. Give her a good tune-up. Plugs, wires, dist cap and rotor. Also, see if you can find a MAP sensor. They have a tendancy to give trouble if they collect moisture from sitting, or wet environments. It really does sound like a funky distributor cap. If the center lead is worn, it will arc, and you'll get a crappy spark, almost in-capable of lighting the gas, or no spark at all. Also, run a compression test, just to make sure you don't have a blown headgasket or anything like that. Pull the spark plugs, and make sure they're all tan. If they're white, or green, you've got a problem. Also, if they're wet, or just black. You've got a biiig problem. But do the tune up first. Get some nice Bosch plugs. Wires are about $25, plugs are about $6 for all 3, and the cap and rotor are about $14. If it doesn't fix it, it probably needs them anyways. Let us know the results after the tune-up, and if you so desire to go into it, the fuel filter (behind the rear drivers side control arm next to the gas tank)