To answer the question I know is gonna come up yes I did already search and I didn't really get any definative info.

Ok here's the story. I asked my cousin to watch my Eclipse while I was deployed because I trust him more than anyone as far as driving my car goes. He said yes and has been watching it since October for me in Missouri. Well last month he graduated College down there and it was time to pack up and move back to NY. Well he got almost half way home and the car began randomly shutting off. Some times it would stay running for a half hour or more. Other times it might not run more than 20 seconds.

He checked all the connections to all the sensors he could find and all of them looked and felt solid. He checked the wiring to the coil pack and all the sensors as well (I don't have EGR so the tube is gone from next to the head). He couldn't get it to stay running long enough to make any real progress in getting home, so he rented a truck and trailer from Uhaul (1100 I really didn't have to spend) to get it the rest of the way back to NY.

Here's the problem I have. I searched and searched and I already ordered the ASD/Fuel pump relay set from Mitsu. I am going to replace that either way, but if that does not solve the issue what other things do you guys suggest looking at. I am thinking it may be the CPS, because when the engine shuts off with the car coasting in gear the Tach goes to 0 rpm. Of course it may also be the PCM but I am leaning away from that since it's a 96 and those didn't really have the problems that the 95 did.

Reason I am asking is because I am still in Iraq and need the car to be running when I get home on leave in August. I am on a limited budget so I really don't want a shop to touch it because I am not willing or able to pay the $80 something an hour for a shop to diag it and make the repair. Plus if it does turn out to be the PCM I already have a Megasquirt to install in it that I have not been able to get to yet.

Thanks in Advance
-Kevin

First off it PROBABLY is not the ECU. They do go bad every now and then, but they are built pretty damn tuff, and are the number two misdiagnosed component next to batteries.

It sounds like you're on to it, definitely sounds heat related which is most likely to affect a coil of some sort, either the ASD relay or crank position sensor like you said.

Your electrical accessories work when the car shuts off and the tach drops out (just confirms it more)?

You already checked your ASD related connectors (assuming you gave the wires a little wiggle, unplugged the connector, looked inside of them, and put them back). Lots of times problems are fixed just by unplugging then replugging the connector.

With this intermittent situation you're doing exactly what you need to do replace the ASD relay then crank position sensor if the problem continues.

Shoot me a PM with location etc. If you're close enough and I can find the time, I'll head over there with some "known goods" to see if we can solve it.

I'm with you on the electrical.

Oh yeah, cels?

MB

A friend of mine is having similar problems, his is a 95 but has a later style ecu in it. When its cold the car would start and I would get 8.8v to the camshaft position sensor but when it would warm up the power would drop to 2.X and wouldn't start-no power to coil pack. He is going to try a new ecu because his egr tube melted some wires and could have shorted something in the ecu. Check your power to the crank sensor, cam sensor and coil pack. Like bullet said also, any codes?

My current location is Baghdad, since I am deployed. I do appreciate your offer for help Mark but even if I was home I doubt you would want to drive to Rochester, NY.

I'm pretty sure it's just something simple so I am gonna start with the obvious stuff first.

-Kevin

Well I did want to do this sooner but I have been quite busy and to be quite honest it kinda slipped my mind. But to Update you all on what the problem was.

I got home for leave in August and started the car up. Because my cousin said my speedo had stopped working a few days before the shutting off problem occured I started looking there. I reached behind the manifold and gave the wires going to the VSS a shake and a tug and the car shut off. So I tried to start it again and it would not start until I removed the plug from the VSS. A quick trip to vato zone ( I really hate doing that but they were the only place in town with one in stock and less than a 3 day wait. It did-for $38 plus tax-come with a new pig tail so I went ahead and soldered and shrink wrapped all the connections and installed the new sensor. Put every thing back together and went out and flogged the crap out of it for about an hour trying to make it shut down again. All and all it was good to go and no further problems have arisen (aside from my mother losing the title but that's another story all together)

On a sad note though in regards to the car I have finally decided to sell it. I am selling it to a guy I work with when we get back from Iraq, and he was willing to give me my asking price of 10k for it. so I am not complaining. I will miss the car but it's time for my other projects to take priority and that 10k is a nice way to get them finished.

-Kevin

Glad to hear you fixed the problem. Sorry to hear you're gonna sell her.

On the bright side, that's a pretty good price to get and, obviously, there would be no way to get that if you couldn't find the problem.

Glad to see you are still alive