'97 TL 2.5 premium. Once the engine gets hot, why does it cut off?

Sorry we have no way to look that up here.

Didn't find 97 ranchero in US automotive database. Is this a US vehicle? I looked for wiring diagram? I'd have to check starter motor wiring circuits and make sure engine isn't trying to seize when it gets hot or starter motor.

Any time you get any dash light ,you have the car checked
for codes within a day or two,not a year

You have had some type of failed system component
or issue for a year.

Your thermostat which closes when cold to let the engine warm up and opens when the water gets hot and lets it circulate through the radiator. If they stick closed your engine overheats in short order. When they stick open it takes forever and a day for the heater to warm sufficiently. This also makes the engine use more fuel. If your thermostat is indeed stuck open it is easy to tell. With the engine cold, take the radiator cap off and start the engine. If it is stuck open water will immediately circulate as seen at the radiator cap opening. If the thermostat were operating normally you would not see water moving for 5 or more minutes of idling. You should always drain the coolant, flush and refill every 2 years. Never ever grab that garden hose and put tap water in your radiator. They come from the factory with distilled water (about $1 a gallon at any grocery store) which has no minerals in it. The minerals in tap water promotes rust and scale build-up in the cooling system reducing it's efficiency. Don't use tap water unless you WANT to have problems.

Possible thermostat but more likely fan belt is slipping when idling causing waterpump to slow or even stop spinning. Tighten or replace fan belt that runs over waterpump pulley

if all cooling system is ok, check out cylender head gasket

The pinging can be caused by overly advanced timing, but the timing is computer controlled, so unless the belt jumped a tooth, there is no way this could occur. If the car seems to have decent power still id rule this out.

Pinging can also be caused by excessive combustion temperatures (Possibly low coolant causing the engine to overhead) and poor gasoline quality - maybe try a premium fuel and see if it helps

Only way to see if the belt jumped would be to take everything apart, get #1 cylinder on TDC of the compression stroke and make sure the marks are lined up on the cam and crank. If that is OK, then you may be looking at a computer.

It is also possible, however quite rare, that carbon deposits build up on top of the piston, and get hot causing preignition.

how can i fix a overheating on a acura tl 1997 3.2

you need to have the fuel pressure checked at the engine and then check the line for flow

possibly engine temp sensor. If the sensor is malfunctioning, it could be telling the engine management that the engine is hot, when infact its cold. This would cause the management system to lean the fuel mixture off, not giving it the rich mixture needed to start a cold engine. After a few turns, its built up a bit of fuel in the cylinders which richens it enough to get it running eventually. Any decent garage can put a computer on your car, and look at the live data. They will be able to see what the sensor is reading in relation to the engine actual temp.

TL