94 Honda Civic DX engine 1500 cc VTEC wont start intermittent

I have a Honda Civic 1994 DX hatchback manual 5
speed there is a issue with my fuel pump not priming
and when my husband put a jumper on it to make it
come on when we turn the key it still won't start turns
over but no ignition.  We have replaced the pump,
distributor, coil, relay, ignition, checked the grounds,
rechecked the grounds, fuses. The problem is
intermittent and every time we do something random
like spreading the wires out behind the the main relay
plug, I hear the fuel pump prime and it will start right
up. It will even start again if I drive it and turn it off.
However, it doesn't the next time. No prime and cranks
but no start. I have followed the message boards on
this subject and tried and checked every suggestion
given. This latest time my husband was fixing with the
fuel injector wires and I heard the fuel pump prime so I
turned the key and it started right up.I let it idle took
about four min. then it died. I haven't been able to get
it to come on since. Please I have a feeling it's
something simple, maybe not, He wants to go get a
new ECU very pricey. He has indiscriminately gone out
and bought part after part just to find out that the
problem persists so the purchase was unnecessary. I
am loathe to find this out after I fork out for a new
ECU. HOW CAN I CHECK THE VERASITY OF THE ECU?