Rep Power: 0

I've had this automatic 1996 LX for almost a year and it ran perfectly until a month or two ago when it died at a stop light. Realized there was no compression so replaced the piston rings but when that was finally done I found that the distributor wasn't working so replaced that as well. Now it will start up perfectly and idle for about 30 seconds until the tachometer just suddenly drops to nothing and the engine bogs and shakes for a moment, then dies. Thought it had something to do with the crank position sensor but replaced that and still having the problem. Anyone know what might be going on?

 
Rep Power: 150

I assume the timing belt is OK and correct and not the original problem of it stopping and bending the valves killing the compression? Does sound like it thinks the valve timing is wrong and turning off the motor. Just keeping your post alive till the real experts come on. Does your car have a crank position sensor at the bottom on the crank and a cam position sensor up to on the cam belt large drive cog? If you put it back one tooth off it will do what you say. It should throw a code.

 
Rep Power: 518

Aftermarket reman distributors are just crap. Try another one.