is my fuel pump bad?

[deepsquat]

While driving my car today (95 Altima) It just plain died on me, had just put $5 of gas in it, so I wasn't out. Have spark to the distributor, The car will idle for a short time, then die. Sometimes can apply gas and it will rev, but then dies after a few seconds. And othjer times will idle , but if you try to apply gas it dies!
My thinking is it is the fuel pump or the regulator. Anyone else have any idea? Or had the same happen to them?
Right now I am waiting for the tow truck to arrive at my house.

BTW I took the fuel line off the filter, and with the key on, I could hold back the fuel from squirting out. I shouldn't be able to do this with a fully functioning fuel pump for a fuel injected car, should I ?

 

[Bogatyr]

deepsquat,
Did you take the line of after the filter or before? On my Xterra, the manual mentions that if the vehicle doesn't run the fuel filter should be changed. Seems strange to me, but I usually replace the filters every 30k miles instead of waiting for a failure. How old is your fuel filter?
Bogatyr

 

[sbc350gearhead]

Did you check the line going to the filter? The fuel pump might be bad or came apart, or the screen is clogged.

 

[LM]

Unless you are hearing the fuel pump run steadily with key on? Usually engine has to be cranking/running, or can jump fuel pump fuse or relay. Could be fuel pump, or other possibilities requiring more testing

 

[deepsquat]

When it first failed I replaced the cheapest thing, the fuel filter..but no go! This morning I started it up and a few times it ran okay at ideal , but when hitting the gas it first stumbles and the revs up...one other suggestion over at altimas.net has been the crank positioning sensor, I guess they wear out on the Nissan due to oil and dirt getting under the cap.
I did order a fuel pump online today ..$125 shipped ( payed 12.50 for 2 day air) Locally the price was 193 at autzone , all the way up to 283 at a small chain ( 6 stores) around here

 

[deepsquat]

Got it running today..don't know if it even was the fuel pump! I also cleaned the distributor workings with contact spray, and when I took the dis cap off I found it only had one screw VS the two it should have had, bought new cap and rotor, and it started right up!