sounds like fuel is not staying in the line from the pump to the throttle body. Using starter fluid to crank it makes it pull fuel back thru the line via vacumm. I had this problem before, and after a lot of part replacing it was the fuel pump. Basically when you shut the car off, there is a valve at the fuel pump that closes, and keeps fuel in the line (instead of draining back into the tank). That valve went bad. Maybe he has the same problem. It's def fuel related if starter fluid is required. I would replace the fuel pump.