Sudden engine shutdown Issue?

Hello everyone,

I'm experiencing a puzzling issue with my 1983 Renault Alliance and would appreciate any insights or advice you might have.

The vehicle listed above is a 1983 Renault Alliance.

Symptoms:

Cold Start: After the car has been sitting for a while, it starts up without any problems.

Running Time: I can drive or let it idle for about 3 minutes before it suddenly shuts off. This happens both while driving and when idling.

Nature of Shutdown: The car doesn't sputter or gradually lose power; it simply turns off abruptly, as if someone disconnected the power—much like unplugging a lamp.

Attempted Restarts: When I try to restart it immediately after it shuts off, the engine cranks strongly (the starter turns very fast), but it won't start. Even using a battery booster doesn't help; the starter engages rapidly, but the engine doesn't catch.

Waiting Period: If I leave the car alone for about 30 minutes, it will start again, and the same cycle repeats.

Fuel System: The car has gas. When I turn the ignition to the "ON" position, I can hear the fuel pump running (though I'm not entirely sure if it's actually delivering fuel properly).

Dashboard Indicators: When the car shuts off, the battery light and another warning light on the dashboard illuminate.


Additional Information:

Battery: The battery seems fine and boosting it doesn't make a difference in starting the car after it shuts off.

Consistency: The issue is consistent every time I start the car after it has been sitting—it runs for a few minutes and then shuts off abruptly.


Request:

Has anyone experienced a similar issue or have any ideas on what might be causing this sudden shutdown? I'm wondering if it could be an electrical problem, fuel delivery issue, or something else entirely.

Any suggestions on diagnostics or potential fixes would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help!