Another update: Thanks very much for all the excellent help. Much appreciated!

Donnie and Rocket, I should have mentioned that I replaced the cap and rotor at 120K. Yes, I used Bosch. Plug wires are o.k.

Terryloh, your suggestion of shorting 30 and 87 worked. I did so and the car started instantly and ran fine. I’m obviously going to have to replace the relay.

VR, I checked the board with a magnifier, but no solder defects, although that technique does indeed sometimes save you!

Euro, good idea to check the amp draw. I assume that you would run leads first between 30 and 87k and then 30 and 87v to an amp meter. Right? What is an acceptable range of amperes? I don’t want to fry another relay, although from looking at the board, nothing looked burned so it just may be a bad chip or just old age.

By the way, Michaels good comment about the coil going bad begs the question, how do you check it and/or what interval should you change it? Any of you folks know?

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'76 240D-Sold
'78 240D-Sold
'85 300 SD, 165K-Sold
'88 300 TE, 165K-Sold
'64 Porsche 356C Cabriolet- under restoration
'86 560SL 124K Miles-Sold
'94 320E Wagon, 74K Miles-128K Miles JUNKED
'06 E350 Wagon, 84K Miles
07 SL550, 14K Miles