I have an intermittent no-start condition where there is no signal to run my tach, even if the engine is turning over. Obviously this kills the fuel pumps too.

I replaced the pickup coil in the distributor, and a Volvo guy told me that the Bosch control unit almost never fails. So I'm left thinking the coil may be bad, although it tests okay now. But the car is running now. Sometimes the car dies while driving it. It stranded me today, and three hours later when I went back to tow it home it started fine.

I'm wondering if a bad coil could kill the ignition signal. I'm only getting 8.3 volts to the coil before starting. It gets 11 or so volts after it's running. I thought that was low, but I don't now if the voltage is supposed to be knocked down before the coil gets it.

The voltage drop (key on, engine off) is about 2 volts. With the engine running it's more like 5 or 6 volts.