My friend's car keeps dying., Need help. Options

[ExSane]

Hey guys. I'm sorry if this isn't in the engine forum. Becuz his car isn't a 6gc nor a Toyota. But anyways, while we were driving around his car would sometimes stop revving and would drop all the way down to zero RPM (keep in mind that a check engine light comes on after his car warms up and idles). He tried to gas it but it doesn't work. After that, the car just suddenly dies while we're driving. We try to turn the car on but it's having a hard time turning on. We pulled over to the nearest gas station and check the engine bay. Everything seems ok. But then I noticed a big ass leak on the floor. I don't even know if it was from the car or it was there before we parked. But I kept it as a note becuz it looked like radiator fluid on the floor. So I concluded it was over heating (his temp gauge doesn't work). But he thinks its his ignition coil and distributor and spark plugs. Has any of this happened to you guys? Please help. Much is appreciated. Thanks.

[Hanyo]

if the car over heats to the point where it doesnt run, then you will smell it. smoke and heat will be coming out of the hood. the smell if burnt head-gasket.

If the ignition system was at fault. then the car will be sputtering and having a hard time to idle.

it can be alot of things, is it an automatic?

[ExSane]

If the ignition system was at fault. then the car will be sputtering and having a hard time to idle.

Thats exactly what it's doing. Thanks. Btw, his car is a manual.

[Consynx]

plugs or fuel
make sure the pump is getting the signal needed.
also change the plugs if you can since it's generally cheap to do(i run coppers).

since the fuel pressure may be dropping and causing a misfire, possibly change the fuel filter too

thinking of cheap fixes.
i'm guessin that since the car goes to 0rpm suddenly it's giving a quick jerk before getting down that low, and also guessing that the thing is atuo-disengaging gear. . .i had something similar to this happen, and i just redid a fuel pump wire and it has been gone since, but i do believe it is my fuel filter instead. i haven't had it again to date, but i plan to redo the fuel system soon, and will let ya know how much dirt came out of my filter if needed.

[lagos]

the CEL light comes on when the car idles. pull the codes and find out what the cel light is for. it will tell you what the problem is.

[Consynx]

oh yea, forgot that part....lol
i didn't have a cel at the time of the prob., and i don't throw one now(haven't had prob tho)