i dont think you have a very good meter.
can you get another meter; meters are usually adjustable; should be set to read such that the reading will be about in the middle of the meter

 

try when you are turning it over to move the key forward or backwards just a little to see if it will start i had the same problem i found that the ignition switch went bad.when i turned the key it would only turn over but if i held the key in the right spot it would start but only while still holding the key in that spot.

 

did you replace the ignition switch??

 

Thanks for the idea, patcheway. I was really hopeful that would be it, but I tried it forward and backward as far as I could with no luck. Did you have to hold it in that particular spot for more than a few seconds for the car to start? I might not have waited long enough?

fglaustin, I don't think my multimeter is bad really, it just doesn't have a variety of ranges for ohms. It did read the 7.8 kOhms without a problem ... that was about in the middle of the scale.

Assuming that number is right, is that enough of a difference to signal a problem with the ignition coil, and thus for me to spend the $70 to replace it, do you think?

Thanks for the help.

 

Hmm ... just checked Autozone and disovered that my the '97 and '94 ignition coils are the same part, so maybe I'll swap those out tomorrow just to see. Unless there's any reason that could cause other problems ...

 

Turns out it was the ignition coil. I swapped that out with the one from my '94 and it started up without a problem. I can't even describe how relieved I am (and also just a little proud ... this is my first real car diagnosis and repair). I did get that sinking feeling back when I returned the ignition coil to my '94 and it wouldn't start. But it turns out I was just an idiot and mixed up the two coils. Doh!

Many, many thanks to everyone here who helped, especially fglaustin. This is a great forum, and I'm really glad that I found it.

 

thanxs for the follow-up.
just thinking, if the ohm reading is low, then that means that there is an internal short in the windings of the coil