I'm trying to help one of my kids get a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado straighened out.  I don't remember the size, but it's an in-line 6.  The problem started out as sputtering and sometimes dieing when slowing down to as stop, but only after it had been running a few minutes.  It started up and ran fine cold, and would run fine once it was warmed up . . .  the problem was in between the two.  It progressivlly got worse, but the check engine light wasn't on.  I went to check on it and the check engine light doesn't come on when you first turn the switch on, so their is a problem with the light its self.  I checked the plug wires for corrosion and they were OK.  All the plugs at the computer seemed to be plugged in tight, but the comptuer was loose on the firewall.  I tightened that up.  Couldn't find any sign of any vacuum leaks.

Took it to AutoZone a couple of weeks ago and had them plug it in to their computer.  It was showing codes for the MAP Sensor, the Primary Coil, and one of the Oxygen Sensors.  From everything I had read, it seemed most likely that it was the MAP Sensor.  I found one new on eBay for $11.00 shipped (they were like 79 at AutoZone).  I replace it one day last week.  Didn't help much, if any.

Now it will start up and very shortly it will start to spit and sputter and finally die, then it won't start for 10 or 15 minutes.  When it does start back up, it'll only run a short time and does it again.  I don't like just swapping parts unless it's cheap and easy to change and I have a pretty good idea that's the problem.  Anybody have any ideas on what to look at next?

There is one at Lockwoods junk yrad

First thing I did this evening was put the old MAP sensor back on it.  I figured if it was under 11 bucks shipped and AutoZone wanted 80 bucks for one, there might be a reason it was so cheap.  It had cooled off by the time I got there . . . it started and ran fine with either sensor.

I had pulled all of the plug wires off the plugs and distributor cap and checked them for corrosion and they looked good.  However, I didn't pull the coil wire off the coil.  I figured since it had shown a code for the coil and a coil was just over 30 bucks and I had 20 on my rewards card, I'd just go ahead and put a new coil on it.  When I pulled the wire off the coil, I found that the post and the connector were burnt and corroded bad.  REALLY, REALLY BAD.  I put a new coil and coil wire on it and it ran good this evening.  That may not have been the problem, but if it wasn't causing a problem yet, it would have soon.  We'll see how it goes tomorrow.