i am not getting any spark out of the high tension cable on the coil, so then with the ignition on, i measured about 12V across the low tension connection and ground on the coil. So it seems like the coil is getting power, but not producing spark. ive done the passive resistance testing on the coil, and it seems to be OK. i would assume its the coil, but i hear from the FAQs and posts that it rarely fails? is there anything else i can look at? am i correct in assuming the powerstage/amp is operational if i read 12V across the coil low tension connection? thanks so much!

Those voltage readings do not prove anything is bad or good, it only says you have power to the plus side of the coil. The negative side is fed a string of timed pulses from the power stage to produce spark. The power stage is fed by the ECU which in turn must see pulses from the hall sensor in distributor or from the crank position sensor depending on your year and model.
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David Hunter

thanks david! ive researched several of your other posts on this issue. im trying to work back up the chain here, so my next test should be the power stage. if its not getting the correct signal from the ECU, then the problem is the ECU or the crank position sensor. is there a way to test the signals from the power stage to the coil, or the ECU to power stage with simple equipment (multimeter)? im wondering if these components are testable since the signals are pulses instead of steady voltages. im trying like hell to avoid replacing the CPS. its sounds like a tough job.

some more background on the issue:
every morning after sitting for the night..it has problems starting. usually after about 10-15 attempts to start, it will just start right up and run like there was no problem...it sits in teh parking lot all day at work and starts fine to go home, but in the AM, no go. it turns over fine, and if i let it keep turning over sometimes, the engine will sort of just stop, even though the key is in the start position. usually after i get to this point it will start shortly thereafter. if once it starts, i shut it off within a few minutes, i will also have a hard time restarting, but if i drive for a half hour or so i won't have a problem.