Runs fine for 15 min. then dies (on road)

[jokoza57]

I have a 88 Festiva Lx carb. Recently rebuilt the engine, and new aluminum head, as well as new Carb by Aisen. Starts fine and I go out to somewhere and it will run fine for 15-20 minutes, (sometimes less), and then it 's like someone turns the key to the off position and I coast to a stop. Let the car set for about an hour, and it starts up just fine. I got it back home and it knocked off again. I let it set again for an hour and the same thing happens. When it cuts off it will turn over and it's getting gas to the carb but will not start unless you let it set for a time. Changed to a new fuel filter and pcv valve, (just maintenance)
It just started doing this in the past month. Have had it on the road for almost 4 months after the rebuild. Could it be the fusible links. The timing and all is correct. No vaccum leaks. When it runs I have good idle speed and it has plenty of power at the take off and runs excellant up to the point it cuts off. There are no other issues other than a fluttering sound that comes from the air cleaner assy. Cleaned the reeds in the housing on the air cleaner and the filter mesh on that assy and the air control valve seems just fine

[ejp2fast]

sounds like something is happening once the engine reaches full temperature...

i have an EFI, and don't know much about carbs.... someone else'll have to chime in.

probabaly not the fuseable links- although they should be checked. should be 30, 40, 30 amps from L to R.

edit: have you checked the fuel filter?

[Flyin4stroke]

Check grounds. There is a major ground that leads to the head maybe you forgot... I had a neon that did this would short in and out and i couldn't find it for the life of me.. Is it getting hot while you are driving at all??

[jokoza57]

response from: Jokoza57 to: ejp2fast & flin4stroke

the ground wire is in good shape and is connected. put a new fuel filter on yesterday........thanks guys

[TominMO]

Since it runs well (when it runs), it's not timing, fuel or air. If it was a fuse, it wouldn't run at all after the fuse broke initially. If it was a bad ground, it wouldn't be so consistent in how it fails.

I would suspect ignition overheating. I had this sort of thing happen to my CRX. It turned out to be something electronic in the distributor. Honda repaired it free since it was a known issue that they had issued a recall notice for.

Like you, I could drive it for awhile and then it would shut off. When the affected part cooled off, I could start it again. Perhaps this is a symptom of an ignition module going bad in the disty?

[jokoza57]

reponse from jokoza57 to fly4strok

The is no heat problem......normal operating temp, thanks.

[TominMO]

The is no heat problem......normal operating temp, thanks.

FYI, I'm not talking about coolant/engine heat, but about possible overheating of a specific electronic part because it is failing. No relation to coolant heat. My CRX wasn't overheating the coolant either.

[jokoza57]

reponse from Jokoza57 to TominMo

I had suspected the coil or the disty, am going to check to see if I get fire to the plugs when it does it the next time. I had pretty much eliminated the coil as they usually just go out altogether. Thanks

[Sparky]

I had pretty much eliminated the coil as they usually just go out altogether.

I had one that would do almost exactly what you're describing, with the exception that it would run fine till warm, and then try to die...by pumping the gas, I was able to limp home. Happened twice before I figured out it was the coil...darn thing read as good when I was at home the first time. It is a 1989 L and with a carb like yours.