I have a 96 Trooper...and I have a problem that seems to have started maybe
3 weeks ago...

It first only happened 1 time while driving 30 miles or so...it seemed to
misfire...

Now it's happening all the time...specifically under load... and from a
standing start I can hear the exhaust make a kind of puttering sound..

Any thoughts before I throw myself at the mercy of a repair shop?

THANK YOU!

 

proably just do for a tune up,or you have a coil bad,if you have the coil over plug design,with it running just unplug each one one at a time an listen for the clyinder that DOES NOT change in rpm.the one that DOES NOT MAKE THE RPM DROP.is your missing clyinder.check the plug an even swap with the one next to it an see if the miss moves ,swap the plug first,check it,then swap the coil an see if the miss moved an you,ll find your problem.YOU NEED TO HAVE THE TRUCK ACTUALLY MISSING CONSTANLY for this trick to work so you can catch the rpm drop.if its only doing it randomly every once inawhile it will be hard to find exactly which clyinder bad.if you have wires do the same thing just lift up the wires one at a time an listen for the rpm change,just becareful of getting SHOCKED...50k ++++++ volts doesnt feel to good.

 

Usually Just spark plugs...make sure they're the NGK platinums

 

Yup.. plugs... everything back to normal...

I had a throttle sensor problem a number of months back, and my first
thought was it being another sensor issue of some sort.. glad it was just the
plugs...

thanks for the input!! much appreciated!