Need help 97 Metro problem...

I will make this as detailed as possible., so you have the most info available. Okay yesterday everything was fine. We went to go out and got about 1 mile up the road and the car just died-no shutter, chug, nothing-just no prower. Coasted into a drive way and tried to start the car. The engine turns over (like normal) but wont catch. Let it sit for 10 mins try again same result. We walk home and in a few hours our neighbor offers to take a look. Get up there car starts and runs for about 3 mins then dies. Lather rinse repeat. Cant figure out what the problem is, so walk back, figure we will get it pushed/towed in the morn. Walk up there this morning, car starts up like nothing was ever wrong, and get it back to the house. Tried to get to a repair palce to see what was going on this afternoon. Car started great, got about a mile up the road and died again. Battery is good (brand new) Just have the spark plugs replaced 2 months ago. The fuel pump cuts on just fine(makes its whirring noise) The timing belt *seems* okay, but not sure. Really need help fast as this is our only car! Please help if you can!

sounds like ignition module in distributor is getting hot and cutting out. next time it dies pull coil wire out of dist cap and put it about 1/4" away from metal part on engine. have someone crank engine while you look for spark. if no spark replace the dist. can get good used ones for about $40. you could also replace the ignition module but they cost a lot more

the same thing happened to my truck. I replaced the ing. module and the coil and its ran great ever since..

Okay we ended up getting the metro towed to a local shiop. They had it for 3 days, said they couldnt find anything, must be the computer. The computer by itself would cost $3100, more than the car is worth. We told them to check again. They recheck discover its not the computer. Left it sitting outside and fiddled with wires and sensors and decided they had 'fixed' it. Went to pick up car ($80 later) ran okay all that day, but left us stranded at a friends house that night w/ the same problem. Car place wont help unless we pay more money to have it towed & checked *again* OKay here is the weird part-The cart will start and run if the engine is warm, like if you let the sunshine sit on for 3-4 hrs, or externally heat it, but will not as long as its cold. We have no idea, wasted $80 to find out nothing and are stuck. Please HELP!!!!!

had the same problem with my geo. I had to buy a rebuilt fuel injuctor $150. and replaced the cap and wires. the car started and ran fine.

next time it doesn't start pull the coil wire and check for spark. if you do not have spark then its either your coil, distributor or ignition module. if you have spark take top of air cleaner off and spray some starting fluid into engine. if it runs for a second and dies then you either have a bad injector or a bad computer or fuel pump. i do have a computer off of a 97 metro if that turns out to be the problem. get back to me after you have determined where problem area is

It could also be the crank position sensor. It is mounted on the oil pump on the front of the engine behind the crank pully. They usually fail when they get hot but you never know. Follow Crvett69's ideas and it should narrow down your problem. Good luck and keep us posted with what you find.