GVR-4 Car dies while driving. Able to start eventually. Need help!

I have a 90 galant VR4. Coming home from hiking the other day, it randomly shut off while going 50mph. Cluster was dead, but all of my lights were working. Tried to restart it, and nothing. No cranking, no life in the cluster. All other electronic devices power up, electronic boost gauge, headlights, etc.

After it sits for 30 seconds-minute with the key on accessories, the cluster will show life. Once this happens, it will finally restart. It will drive for roughly a minute, and will die again. Then you will have to keep repeating this cycle to make it home!


Pulled the ecu today, and everything appears fine. Could this be the MPI relay? Very odd how the cluster has no life for 30 seconds-minute, and the car won’t turn over period during this time frame. Once the cluster shows life, it starts.

Ideas?

 

I pulled the ecu. Everything looked good.

 

Going to try and go over wiring today, and will check the ignition switch for heat.


Forgot to note. The car has randomly been hard to start for 2ish weeks. I know the throttle body shaft seals have a leak, so assumed it was just that while I waited to replace them. First crank in the morning, car always stumbles and will die. Second crank, it fires right up. Also, I noticed when in the mountains at a higher elevation. After turning the car off, it won’t restart. Would just crank and crank, but not fire. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, and everything is fine. That issue will only happen at elevation. Again, assumed it was just the leak at throttle body.

Also, the past few days it would randomly make the warning chime noise while driving. Which would only last 3 seconds, maybe once every other day? No dash warning lights though?

 

Took the column area apart. Lots of random wiring. The Japanese love adding garage electronics. Moving any of it around doesn’t cause it to stall. Ignition doesn’t get hot, and wiggling it’s harness and key doesn’t cause it to stall. Drove it around the block, and it will stall within a minute of driving. Currently sitting in the car right now, while it’s been running for 5+ minutes. Still hasn’t stalled.

Mine is a JDM VR4, so it doesn’t have the auto seat belts. The door I believe does have a chime, again the car is currently running. Opening the door doesn’t cause a chime right now. Maybe it never did. Who knows 100%. But the door open icon does show in the dash if you open the door.

Could the mpi relay be causing the dash to go out?

 

I noticed the relay circled, is incredibly hot. Almost couldn’t touch it, in order to pull it. Swapped it out with a known good one, and it started to get hot after 5 minutes. If you pull it while the car is running, it doesn’t kill it though. Hoping this will point me in the right direction? Happen to know what that relay is for?

Also, the MPI clicks when the car is turned off, as does another relay under the steering wheel area. Pretty sure that’s normal though

*Edit* It’s a relay for the power windows. Not sure why it’s getting insanely hot.

 

It only clicks once, as does another relay somewhere under the steering wheel.

I’ve never used the turbo timer in this car, it’s always been completely powered down. Deleted it earlier, and drove the car for 20 mins without it shutting down. Would be wonderful if that’s the issue, time will tell.

 

Relays were still getting warm, and it would still make the random chime with the turbo timer deleted. Not the issue. Ripped into the car more, and happened to stumble upon an aftermarket alarm. It looked factory the way it was hidden, had foam around it. What junk. I hate aftermarket electronics. Problem solved