my question is`, where do I find info on troubleshooting this circuit. i see nothing in the books, or wiring diagrams

 

I don't know, beyond what might be in the shop manual.

The RFID antenna is in the steering column, right around the key cylinder, so look for flaky wiring connections there?

 

guess what, it was the computer. we got one on ebay, had the key programmed in and its good. So to sum it up, bad distributor, bad crank sensors , and bad computer. All I can say is, it must have had a power surge or something like that.

 

Monitor your system voltage. (Got a voltmeter that you can rig up to the cigarette lighter?) Maybe your voltage regulator (inside the alternator) is flaky so you don't want to fry the new parts.