Died on the way to work

My sons car died while driving to work. Started sputtering and then died.
Its a 91 escort GT. I went to pick him and we checked it briefly. Starts right up for about 5 seconds then dies. If you try to restart no luck. Wait 5 minutes and starts right up then dies again 5 seconds later. Battery checks okay. Hearing clicking sound next to air box. Is there a fuel relay causing a shutdown? When speaking with my son he said the sputtering started yesterday while cruising at a low rpm. Around 2000. He downshifted and he says it went away. It did this to him three times. Of course he mentions this to me after we tow it home and we are trying to figure out what is wrong.

Sounds almost like a clogged fuel filter. Could also be a clogged or broken vent line to the fuel tank. Take the fuel cap off and see if it will run. If so, then you have a vent problem. The vent could have a solenoid that opens up when the motor is running and that's the click you here. Solenoid would be near the charcoal cannister which is under my battery but I'm guessing you have to 1.8L engine.

I'm not sure about the 91 Escort but my 90 Escort has the infamous TFI or (Thick Film Ignition Module) mounted on the distributor which will cause all sorts of driveablitly problems from stalling on the highway to not starting until it cools down. I had a problem of stalling and not starting when it rained and replaced the TFI Module for about $35 at Auto Zone. It worked for me. Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

My sons car died while driving to work. Started sputtering and then died.
Its a 91 escort GT. I went to pick him and we checked it briefly. Starts right up for about 5 seconds then dies. If you try to restart no luck. Wait 5 minutes and starts right up then dies again 5 seconds later. Battery checks okay. Hearing clicking sound next to air box. Is there a fuel relay causing a shutdown? When speaking with my son he said the sputtering started yesterday while cruising at a low rpm. Around 2000. He downshifted and he says it went away. It did this to him three times. Of course he mentions this to me after we tow it home and we are trying to figure out what is wrong.

91's do not use a tfi module. It is a 1.8L setup and it sounds like no fuel. Try spraying carb cleaner into the intake and see if it stays running. Take the plastic tube from the carb cleaner and slip it by the intake hose so the mass air sensor will operate. If it stays running on carb cleaner then it is a fuel delivery problem, ie:inertia switch popped, fuel pump relay inoperative, injector problem? The GT is a Mazda engine and uses all the jap relays and stuff.

Thanks for all the help. First I replaced the fuel filter no luck. Checked all my connections under hood, vacuum lines etc. Bad fuel pump...... low pressure just enough to allow a start and idle. Once you touch the gas....dies.