I'll do that, I never thought to check the owner’s manual and my Chilton's is not 97 specific.
I caught my HI-6 with the ready light not on during a recent intermittent problem. It is powered by the same 12V and has been that way for nearly 10 years without issue. By the time I got access to the wiring with my voltmeter I could not reproduce the problem. I have also observed the ready light on during this problem as well but that light may not tell all. This also corresponded with a recent PCM swap which is what made the PCM suspect but perhaps is only coincidental. So the coil is not powered by the PCM?

 

no the coil is not powered by the pcm, it has a fuse in the fues panel under the hood, should be labled ignition use 11, 10amp

this same fuse also powers the ign module, and the 12v for the crankshaft position sensor

 

Shoebox has the wiring diagrams for the 95. Since the 96/97 coil connector (single plug) is different than the 95 (double plug), the exact wiring diagram may differ. But the point is, the ICM and coil come off the same fuse as noted in the post above:

 

Surprised me but it must be the HI-6 dying then. Igniton on, no light, saw that twice. Thanks for the help.