89 Bonnie starting problems

[Alibi]

Unknown miles on engine and transmission (came from junkyard).

New parts: plugs, wires, filters

Car sat for a long time before my friends got it. They started it up, drove it 10 miles to my house and parked it. We worked on it for a couple days and it would start just fine, but the wierd thing was that the battery kept draining. The dome light would stay on and the open door chime would ding when the doors were closed. I thought it was a problem with the pins that depress when the doors close.

Anyway, we try to start the car to see how it was running after the new parts and it wouldn't start. The starter would engage and turn the motor, but it just woulnd't fire. I sprayed ether into the air intake and it fired right up, sounded great, and then died after a couple seconds (assuming the ether burned off).

I depressed the shcrader valve on the fuel rail suspecting the fuel pump and I only got a very weak dribble and then no fuel. I assumed the pump was out.

Fast forward to a couple months later, now. They had the car towed to a mechanic who took one look at it and told them there there must be a bad ground causing the lights to stay on and to short out the pump. He says to just junk the car (), personally I don't think he wants to screw with it.

So, my question is: Is this likely? Where would this ground be (I remember hearing that there is a bundle under the carpet by the drivers seat that tends to corrode)? Is it just a lazy mechanic?

Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

So far this is what I'm thinking may be possible causes:
-door pins are flakey and the pump is indeed bad
-wire bundle by the seat is corroded and is causing a bad ground
-the grounds on top of the fuel tank are corroded and nead to be cleaned
-crank sensor might have gone out

[maxwedge]

First of all seperate the 2 issues, get it running first, see if you hear the pump prime when the key is turned on, get a pressure gage on the rail, check for 12v and ground at the pump, all basic diagnostics for no or low fuel pressure.