1998 Dodge Neon won't run without staring fluid, then does

My car just died! they way it died made me think bad fuel, the only time the car would start was when we sprayed starting fluid in the air filter, then it would start, but would shake as if it were running out of gas, hitting the accelerator made no difference then it would just die after about 15 seconds! my nephew has a computer that we hooked up and it said that it needed a crankshaft sensor, so we replaced that. still nothing! so then we cleaned the fuel filter, not replacing it due to the fact that you can't get them for less than $250.00 because you can't get them without buying the pump. so we took a parts cleaner to it and replaced it....still same symptoms....help!!!