My 97 TJ will start but it runs very rough and shakes violently, then dies.

A couple of months ago when it was extremely cold, i started the jeep up and drove into town. On the way the jeep started to run very rough and lost all power and died. I had to get it towed home. Since then, it will start but shakes and sputters and then dies, especially when I try to put it in gear. I am not very mechanically inclined but I did replace the O2 censor on the exhaust a few months ago and this feels nothing like that. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is there a diagnostic tool anyone can recommend that i should purchase to confirm what this is? Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated...the wife does not want me spending money on it with a mechanic since it is a toy.

 

Get it pressure tested. Not expensive. That will tell you if you have compression in the cylinders. Sounds like it might be missing, Could be rings, pistons, valve or a head gasket. Check your oil see if you have any water or if it smells like fuel.