resistance wire (dark brown wire from the alternator and goes to a junction of the red wire from the ignition module and the red wire coming out of the coil).
Another check: turn ignition key to "ON", 6 volts at red wire coil.
Nope & Nope! I sure do appreciate the help Torx. The info on the ballast v resistor wire was familiar, but I'm not sure which it'd be coming from the Alt (pic below)...
View attachment 17559
So that red wire that had the connector was the one I re-soldered just to ensure what you said... that it was a good connection. There is no brown wire from the Alt, but there is one 'floating' around in the engine compartment from the wire loom where other ignition wires go and it is right next to the Alt, with a female connector end... no clue!
Tested the Coil (I think) and get the following reading when connecting the positive lead to the Coil + and the negative lead to the engine block (pic below)...
View attachment 17560
well below 6 volts I should say (that is, if I'm doing it right).
For kicks, and 'cause it was cheap, I replaced the ICM with another Stock Motorcraft (Ford) one, and I replaced the Starter Terminal Relay with a stock one. The headlight switch that 'sparked' when I inserted the switch I disconnected to ensure it was nothin' in there messin' with things, 'twasn't! I also 'multi-tested' the coil and decided not to replace it since the 2 terminal test and the ignition wire & 1 terminal test gave the numbers that it shoulda given. When I took off the ignition wire, started the Jeep an watched the schpark jump, it was a bright orange with a bitta blue in it. Shouldn't thatta been all blue?
Anyway, I'm interested in this Resistor wire as this issue was fixed whilst driving my dad's car with the same symptoms (replaced the ballast, which makes me suspect this 'Resistor' wire). Possibly related, one-a the pics above shows about a credit card size box that had about a credit card sized card on it to which were attached about 10 integrated circuits... don't suppose that's any relation.
Torx, really appreciate your response... makes me think you are the only member and this site just LOOKS BIG! :O)