The car has been having problems for some time. Started with Intermittent stalling at stop signs/lights unless it was given gas and not always restarting immediately. Then it reached a point of not starting at all, Distributor was changed and still no start/ and now no spark.. Mechanic is looking at the ICU and ECU

Questions;
Does the vehicle need both to be functioning to start /spark?
Does a code show up on the dash when failure takes place?
I am doing none of the repairs and relying on VF comments and mechanic's opinion.
I love the car but is it time to say goodby after 33 years of ownership.
Advise/recommendations - all appreciated,
Thank you

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The Ignition control unit is a common failure point. Sometimes it's simply poor connections where the harness is plugged in, sometimes cracked solder connections on the ICU circuit board are the problem - or for some other reason - the ICU does not work anymore. With a car that old - could even be the wiring harness to the ICE.

There are no self diagnostics on an 1986 - and knowledge of those old systems is going to be pretty rare. Knowledgeable people willing to work on it will be even more rare. Sorry - but good luck.