Hi, I have an 89 sedan with a stock 1.5l that has been perfect until this problem. I took it on a longer than usual trip(220mi.) going faster than usual. When I returned the car stalled, I was able to start&drive a short distance at a time. I thought it was the fuel pump, after replacing the fuel pump, it ran fine for 2 miles, then started stuttering and died again. Guessing it has something to do with the air flow. Any suggestions on where to start?
P.S. after it died on the test drive I was able to start it. I had a friend pull me back, I started it to have brakes but once we started moving with a little speed it died again.

 

Does it seem to require a "cool off" period to restart after it stalls? Does the fuel pump not click (the handy sign that it's priming) when you turn the key to run? Have you thrown any fuel system codes? If any of those are true, and especially if all of those are true, check your main relay. Located under the dash up against the driver side of the car. It's oriented plug end down on a 3-4" metal bracket. Fairly easy to fish out if you remove the little change drawer. The solder joints wear out and crack, they expand with heat and eventually pull apart enough to screw up current flow, leading to fuel cut and stalled car.

I had the relay go out in in my 89 wagon several years ago. Checked injectors, replaced the pump, tore half the wiring apart, had no idea where else to look... and it was that relay the whole time. Some days it pays to google a little more. At the age of our cars it's usually the first place you should look if you have fuel issues.

 

have you checked the Igniter in the distributor? they too get a lot of temperature fluctuation from use and climate and sometimes tend to short out randomly.

 

+1 check the igniter.

 

distributor bearing went bad, overheated the rotor and melted the plastic. now the timing is all off.

you can check the rotor and replace it. but it doesnt really solve the distributor bearing now being toast. its very difficult to replace that bearing without destroying the rest of the distributor.

new distributor is the best solution.