Abstract: A system for preventing overheating of an internal combustion engine comprised of a temperature detector which activates an electronic circuit to intermittently interrupt engine ignition spark to gradually decelerate the engine. The electronic circuit has an oscillator which is activated by the temperature detector whose duty cycle is gradually increased up to a maximum. The oscillator output energizes a gating circuit to turn on a thyristor which connects an ignition charging circuit to ground. Thus interrupting the ignition spark.