98 xe shuts off after driving...starts and then dies again?

[Upgraded]

Okay, my father-in-law has a 98 frontier xe and a while back it started acting funny. He would drive it for about 15 mins and then it would just shut off. He would roll to a stop, turn the key off, back on and it would start right up and run again for another 10-15 mins and do the same. It runs fine when it's running, and there is no CEL. He's tried a couple of things with no luck and I can't seem to find the problem either. He's wanting to take it to the dealer and I would rather see him not do that. For diagnostic service they could rape him easy. anyone had any simmilar issues or have any suggestions?
Please I would rather only ppl who have had the same issue or ppl who almost know for certian what the problem could be answer just so I don't have to read through a bunch of "shot in the dark" answers. Thanks in advance.

[mp3me]

I had a 99 XE and there was a problem with the fuel sender unit. Sounds like the same problem. It may have also been a recall.

[HKYStormFront]

i'm gonna go with fuel sending unit as well on this one, could be a lot of things but that sounds right especially if it was a semi-common problem

[Mylt1]

sounds like a coil pack or ignition control module.

[ebritt]

My freind had a 99 that did that , it was a mass air flow sensor. You can try cleaning it, they make a spray cleaner for it.

[Upgraded]

I'm leaning away from the fuel issue due to the fact that when it cuts out, it shuts right off. Normally with a fuel problem it will sputter and spit and slowly shut down as the fuel is burned. I've been in the truck while this happend and my first reaction was ignition problem.

[ebritt]

Originally Posted by Upgraded

I'm leaning away from the fuel issue due to the fact that when it cuts out, it shuts right off. Normally with a fuel problem it will sputter and spit and slowly shut down as the fuel is burned. I've been in the truck while this happend and my first reaction was ignition problem.

My mother-in-laws Escape would start, run for half second then stop...it also was the MAF. She had been running withour air filter and a peice of foam somehow went down in the sensor and melted on the element.I scraped it off gently and cleaned it up and it ran fine.