Beretta.net

I have been begged to help  a friend with a 1988 2.8L beretta .  The car was stolen drove in to a snow bank and then recovered .  But now wont start .  It cranks good and fast ( good battery ) but wont fire .  I put new Plugs in ( the old ones were terrible ). also put on a new ign module . It has spark . Has fuel 1/2 tank and good fuel pressure at fuel rail. It does back fire back up thru intake ocassionally.

You have spark but you should check the spark wires and make sure they are in the right place. You could add some injector cleaner.  Check Air filter.  But also how did they (The people who took the car) start to car.  Any keys?

The keys were left in the car when it was stolen .
It is getting fuel    and also will not start on starting fluid . Using starting fluid ,  for me at least , removes all fuel problems ( fuel supply, fuel pump, fuel filter,injectors )  .
And I forgot it has 156K miles .

The backfiring through the intake suggests either the plug wires are in the wrong spot, your new ignition module is garbage, or the CPS isnt functioning properly.  The car is getting spark but just not at the correct times.  CPS, ICM and plug wires are the obvious culprits.  ECM would be next on my list.