Car shuts off after driving for an hour

Hi Nate,

This sounds like the crankshaft angle sensor is going out in the distributor which is common. When these sensors go out they do not leave a trouble code but we should run the codes anyway.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/nissan-obd1-diagnostic-trouble-codes-and-retrieval-procedure-1984-to-1994

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Here are the instructions and a guide below to help you change the distributor out.

REMOVAL

1. Mark position of No. 1 tower of distributor cap on distributor housing.
2. Remove distributor cap.
3. Crank engine to align rotor with No. 1 mark on housing.
4. Place a mark between distributor housing and engine.
5. Remove distributor retaining bolt and the distributor. Do not crank engine when distributor is removed from engine.

INSTALLATION

1. Align rotor with No. 1 mark on housing.
2. If engine was cranked when distributor was removed from engine, crank engine until No. 1 cylinder is on compression stroke and the timing marks align on the pulley and front cover.
3. Install distributor into engine, aligning all index marks made during removal.
4. Loosely install distributor retaining bolt.
5. Adjust ignition timing and tighten distributor retaining bolt.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

It is best to do the distributor because the bushings wear out in the housing and take out the electronics.