HELP! 87 Civic won't stay running.

[eojjoe00]

First off I have a carburated 87 civic (keep that in mind).
Last week I was idling in traffic on the freeway so I decided to go around it all and take the next exit. My car started to shut down at 50mph. The tach would just go from 3K to 0 and back and forth. Then it died, so I restarted it as it was still rolling got about 20 secs out of it then it died again and didn't start. I waited about 2 hours and it started up and I drove it to work.

After work It started and I drove it about 20 mins and then the same thing. Next day I got it to a friends house and replaced the 2 fuel filters and the fuel pump. It fired right up and it ran for about 10 minutes then just died same problem.

I replaced the coil and still the same crap, after it cools off completely it will run for 10 min and that is all. It will run great and it will turn over beautifully but just won't start.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

[85 sedan]

Check teh distributor cap and wires, heat will make old ones fail.

[eojjoe00]

Originally Posted by 85 sedan

Check teh distributor cap and wires, heat will make old ones fail.

I just replaced them about 10K ago.

[superex87]

i have an 87 crx and had a similar problem, it would heat up the shut down and would not start untill it cooled off. I replaced the igniter (inside the distributor has 2 wires attached to it) and it ran great after that. Igniter cost me about 35$.

[sweety1080]

have you checked your altenator? for the longest time i thought the battery of mine was failing but turned out my battery wasn't getting charged and it effected the engine in a bad way. the engine would just die while around 50km and the lights would dim till it just stopped. getting it rebuilt is cheaper and you are more likely to have less problems with it. (approx $100)

[87plain]

I had the same problem. Take the cam cover off and check the tension of the timing belt, if it is loose there is a hole above the camshaft pulley. Remove the cover, the exposed bolt is the tensioner, loosen it the tension around the water pump should go. Make sure your distributor timing is correct and go.