You are so correct. It is difficult to diagnose a problem when it's sporadic like this and acts normal most of the time.

But while the 'continue to drive it' approach might work well where you live, Matt, that just isn't the best for me, living in the city as I do. I think it may come to that, though. Knowing whether or not it's sparking when this happens is obviously a huge step in the right direction.

The first time this happened was in my own driveway. So no problem there. The second time it happened I was waiting for the traffic signal to change at a busy intersection during the evening rush. This was no place to be performing diagnostic procedures.

I decide to take it out for a short drive this morning. I didn't take any tools or diagnostic equipment. And it died on me. An opportunity missed. This was on a well traveled street and even though it's Sunday morning, there were a lot of people out and about. I was blocking a traffic lane.

Based on the previous occurences, I figured it should start again. I can't rely on that. But fortunately it did. Once again, it took a minute.

I decided to drive it a few more miles using the side streets. No problems.

So, while I won't be driving the car back and forth to work, I expect I'll have to take it out and drive on the side streets and wait for it to happen again, which it inevitably will. It only took a few minutes to conk out this morning. Next time, I'll be ready.

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'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon