Need some help here with a 1988 ford tempo. Until a few months ago was fine. Now everytime it gets hot outside, or I run the engine for an extended period( about 45 minutes) the car loses almost all power and sputters then dies. That is only in the lower gears though. If I can manage to get it to about 60 MPH it does not die. Anyone have any help for me. my email is scottiemow@hotmail.com and I am signed onto MSN right now if you need to know anything else. I really want to know what is wrong because I have spent about 400 dollars trying to fix it and nothing has worked.

During the sputtering and dying, will the engine run ok if you slip it into neutral?

indeed

I'll take that for a "yes." Perhaps you have a locked-up torque converter. If it runs ok in park or neutral but stalls in drive, chances are that's it.