Check engine light comes on car will not run

Faulty glow plugs or air in fuel system

Any check engine light? Have you checked coolant level? This has all the symptoms of a blown head gasket

It'll pay to have the crank sensor checked. They're known for heating up and stalling the car when they're no longer any good. Usually once it has cooled down the car will start but as soon as the sensor gets hot it'll stall again

When you have a check engine light, there are codes stored. That's where you start--with the codes

The light and the word stop should be sending you a clear message . The engine hard starting and sluggish is also sending a message and if you do not heed the message and have the fault codes read and the problem fixed then the next message may be replace the engine or gear box . The light is there --not to be an annoyance ---but to inform you that something drastic is going wrong and it needs urgent attention.

Temp.gauge really has nothing to do with the perfomance of the engine. If the car has been unused for a few hours, the engine oil etc settles down. It is good idea to let it run after a cold start so the oil circulates in the engine. Keep in mind it's a 1996 model and needs more care. Keep servicing regularly.

I think we all just live in a world of automobiles,that have
too much high tech technology,when not so much is needed,
just to keep exhaust emissions at an acceptable level

At least you kept going back to the dealer & not keep driving
as most people do

You gave the dealer techs several chances at resolving the issues,
all be it, expensive, to say the least.

I don't see anything where you went wrong, or they let you down,
assuming your good to go & no more issues

I assume that the head gasket was something that only moved
& leaked internally under certain conditions & I don't know why or
when the ECU came up as a problem,they don't fail often

Check the vacuum line on the fuel pressure regulator for any sign of gas being sucked into the line. A failed regulator will let extra gas get into the engine. If it's okay, have the fuel pressure checked. That's sure a lot of gas, way too much for the engine. Good luck.

Is it overheating? If the engine gets hot, it will shut everything down until it cools.

Hello, I have 1996 Ciera with rebuilt engine pretty new, also fuel filter and fuel pump replaced but I have a problem, the car starts and runs well cold but once car has been running for a few hours, either stopping or coming to a stop it starts to idle roughly and has come to a stop at different occasions. Check engine light does come on and off occasionally. Can you help?