1988 Oldsmobile 98 fuel pump

Engine Performance problem
1988 Oldsmobile 98

I just finished reading some questions and answers on your site, and it sounds like I may have a fuel pump problem. How can I tell if my fuel pump is bad? (This is for my mom's car) My last car was a 99 Olds. Intrigue and it took 5 months and 1000 dollars for the mechanics to figure out that it was my fuel pump causing my car to die.

updated 4/21/10
Just want to say thank-you for answering my question. I forgot all about asking you a question. I really didn't expect a reply. Since then, my mom has spent 1500 dollars on various parts and labor. None on the fuel pump. They checked the codes and nothing came up. But they replaced several sensors and did some other things. Do you find it odd that they replaced sensors when the codes didn't show them bad? Do you think they replaced them hoping that it fixed the problem? Problem being, loss of power, car shaking when going over 50 mph, all this happening intermittently. Anyways, thank-you guys.