1996 Saturn SL1

Do you have any code's?If you don't know go to a auto parts store like auto zone and have them see if you do. If you do write the code number's down.I would also check to see if you have a bad coolant temp sensor there only 10 and it's really common for them to go bad. Also inspect the connector to it if it's corroded then replace the connector too. When it die's does it restart right away?

Just because the light's not doesn't mean you don't have code's. From what you describe it sound's like the coolant temp sensor not the plug's and wire's. If the plug's and wire's are bad you get missfire's not the whole engine shutting down. If you need a tune up anyways then go right ahead and change the plug's and wire's.I recommend you use ngk regular plugs none of the platnium plug's they don't run right in those car's. If you decide to change the coolant temp sensor make sure you get a brass tipped one the plastic tipped one's crack. Also inspect the connector going to it for corrossion. If you change the wire's inspect the coil tower's for being corroded pretty common for that to happen as well.I would also check your fuel pressure and when was the last time you changed your fuel filter your supposed to change them every 30,000 miles they get pretty clogged by then.

I would give the coolant temp sensor a try it's a lot cheaper then those other thing's they have been trying. You should email these post's to her dad so nothing get's miss understood from what i'm saying. But let me know what they find and if you need anymore help.

That's another expensive guess I haven't replaced very many of those and I have worked on saturns for the dealer for over 16yrs. When they fail the car doesn't run at all till they cool down. That's a terrible guess hopefully he listens to especially if he is guessing with your money.

Keep me informed I emailed you a diagram of where the sensor is you can send it to him in case he needs it. Also make sure he checks the connector if it's green or blue where it connects to the replace the connector too. Also brass tipped sensors only to replace it the plastic ones crack and leak into the connector corroding them.

Well the module is about 114 and the sensor is only 10 and a lot easier and cheaper to change. Let me know when he want's to stop throwing guesses at it and put's the sensor in.

If that sensor was bad you wouldn't even know it was overheating unless it was so hot it boiled over the cap. Because that sensor runs the temp gauge and the coolant temp the computer and when they go bad they read a lower temp then actual temp. If he doesn't want to try the temp sensor have him do this when the engine is cold. Remove the sensor and if the tip that goes into the head is plastic see if it's cracked or cracking. If it is then the sensor is bad he will loose a little coolant when he does this. Also have him inspect the connector for being corroded. It won't tell for sure if it's bad that way but it is something that won't cost anything to look at.A bad temp sensor will cause alot of differnt symptoms hard starts no starts stalling and not restarting for a while all differnt things.I'm just trying to save you some money from guessing what it might be a 10 most likely guess is better then a remote chance 114 guess.

Was the old sensor cracked how about the connector was it corroded?Does the car start right back up?Or do you have to wait before it start's?When the car is acting up I would check it for fuel pressure see how much it has. They rent fuel pressure gauge's at auto zone. If it's only happening while hot then you could have a bad cat restricting the exhaust when it's hot. When it dies and you try to start it will it start right up or just crank no start?If it is a crank and not even trying to start when it dies I would check for spark.

Lets try this when it gets hot and won't start have them pull off two wire's that are side by side off the coils and have someone crank it over and the other person watching for a spark from tower to tower. If there is no spark then it could be possible that the crank sensor is bad.

Alright keep me posted what they find when they get back in town. Also the muffler not attached to the exhaust pipe won't cause this if you had a plugged cat now that could cause it to die. But not restart that would be a pretty plugged cat. But let me know when they get back in town and what they find.