The fuel pump on my wagon has developed an occasional habit of not starting about 15 minutes following a fuel fill up these days. It has even happened twice while driving itself, during a shift into gear. It's not every time I fill up, usually just happening once every other tank, but today it occurred perhaps half a dozen times throughout the day when I tried to start (yes I did a lot of driving today). A whack or two from my crescent wrench gets me back on the road again, but that probably isn't going to work forever or be something I'd want to do when stalled out in the middle of a four lane freeway at night. So a new fuel pump for me.

Basically I just wanna know if my gas tank is to blame or not and how to tell. The car seems to run fine even at the 13 gallon mark; it's just AFTER the tank has been filled that it is liable to not start. Could my unresolved evap leak (diagnosed by some SMOG mechanic last year who didn't even tell me where the source was other than being up near the tank) be a factor in all of this? I just don't wanna destroy the next pump that I put in if my tank is gonna be sending it rusty water the rest of its life. Any other telltale signs of a bad tank?

Thanks a bunch fellas. I appreciate any guessing and advice and data as always.