MPV gas tank troubles?
 

[I posted this in the Tech Questions forum, but thought maybe someone here has seen this...]

I've got a strange one that has me at my wits end...

About 6 months ago, my '97 MPV died suddenly as I was making a quick left turn. I was near Empty, but it has never done this before. Soon, this started becoming a regular occurance anytime the tank got below 1/8, or so, and it would also start sputtering driving straight down the road if I got too close to Empty on the gas guage.

I changed the fuel filter, but this didn't help. I took the car to my local Mazda dealer where they declared it was surely a fuel pump issue. About $700 later, I drove away confident that the problem was solved. It isn't! Still does the exact same thing.

Two questions:

(1) What could be causing this problem? I'm sure it's a fuel delivery problem (not electrical) because this NEVER happens if I keep the tank above 1/4 full.

(2) Is there any way I can get my money back from this dealer that mis-diagnozed the problem and sold me something I didn't need?

Thanks for any help you can offer!!!

Kevin in Rochester, MN