Although the cheesecake idea sounds great. I had been thinking of a smouldering stick. Doesn't hypothermia do something to your mental abilities?

I went and got myself a second loaner AMM, this time a remanufactured piece. Worked beatifully, and the shop (I love these guys, and owe them many favors -- maybe I'll buy a cheescake and drop it off there tomorrow) let me keep it long enough to drive out to a junkyard to find a cheap, used, but working AMM.

Conclusion: The voltmeter test on the AMM is only a very very cursory check. Also, several shops told me to disregard the bit about replacing your air intake thermostat (flap thing), saying that was just a myth -- albeit one that was printed in giant yellow letters on the package of the reman AMM. I ended up disconnecting the manifold heater pipe anyway, for peace of mind.

Yes, I will get to that wiring someday, but with 21 years already, there is not much incentive to fix little tidbits. Especially since things break so easily -- especially anything made of plastic -- on this car. That, and I am working on a serious oil leak first.

Thanks everyone!
-Kev