No Power, Service Engine Light

[BTSSIDEKICK]

Just after a snowstorm yesterday, I was driving the 96 Sidekick 1.8L when it began too lose power significantly. The 'service engine soon'' light came on and the truck began to backfire and shudder. Took it to a questionable garage and they said it was a misfire on cylinder number 3. They indicated that there was a fair bit of moisture down around the coil / plug on cylinder numder three. He said it could probably use a 'coil boot' but in lieu of that, he dried it up and used dielectic grease (new plugs too). His fix improved the situation for about a half hour and now the problem is back although this time, no engine light. The mechanic himself did not seem convinced that his fix would really cure the problem either. My guess is the coil itself on that cylinder...

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions before I bring this thing into my regular mechanic? Thanks!

[lord_galathon]

How long since you've changed your spark plugs and wires? Cause that's the first place I'd look...

[BTSSIDEKICK]

The vehicle has new plugs. There are no wires on the 1.8L engine, it has a distributorless ignition with a coil per cylinder. I have been driving it since the problem reared its head and it is'nt that bad..., after a few kilometers it seems that any moisture burns off and the misfire goes away. Or the severity of misfire is diminished. The vehicle is in the shop now and my mechanic seems to think that the degraded coil boot can be fixed or sealed with silicone. Time will tell, the replacement coil is about $130 CDN from Suzuki - no aftermarket available in my province...