okay, here we go:
new cap rotor, wires, & plugs. with the tach wire pulled of the cap, it ran for about 2 min, then died, and would not restart. Previously with the tach wire connected my all of my gauges would freak out, and all digital displays (climate DIC & fuel computer) would go blank.
Is there an easy test for the module, and what is the life of it?
(this one is at 140k, and I just installed its second set of plugs/wires; etc
t

It sounds like the module may have just picked this time to fail. According to the FSM there is no test for the module other than with a special module tester. Many auto parts stores have these. I believe Autozone does. They stock the Wells brand which has had very mixed reviews. I'd only go there as a last resort.
FWIW
YMMV

okay, so i found what i f*^&ed up, now I need to figure out what else broke with it. In my infinate wisdom, I put the hei coil back in without placing the piece in that connects the bottom of the coil to the center pin in the three pin connector. So now that I have put it together correctly, what did i fry by starting the car without this in place.
I have done this job at least a dozen times, and never made this mistake; thoughts are always welcome
t