Hi group!

This may not be specifically Vanagon related but I know some people have
fitted GTi Golf engines or GLi Jetta engines to their vans.
My son broke down halfway from home to college after spring break and he has
no sparks.    His car is an '86 GLi with the 1.8 l engine and has the knock
sensor system on the distributor instead of advance/retard mechanisms.
I have not yet found any documentation on how to trouble shoot it.    I have
never seen such a complicated ignition system before.
Are there any experts on the list that could shoot me some pointers or send
me some pages from a Bentley manual on this ?
So far I have substituted the distributor, coil , ignition module to no
avail, but I have just discovered the knock sensor module/computer.
What are the chances this is what has gone bad and how can I test it?

The car is about 2 1/2 hours drive from home, in Savannah, Ga

Thanks for any help you can offer,
Steve Cotsford
84 Wolfsburg Westy