The reason you don't see a ground wire on the thermo housing is because that's not the thermo housing, it's just the water outlet. Thermo housing is at the end of the other radiator hose.

 

buy a new coil and put it on there and see if it runs, may have burnt the old coil

 

Is the coil or the ICM the first to go?

 

coil is the first, i have had one where i was driving and it just died

 

FIXED !
Thought I would follow up here.

It was indeed the coil.
Put in a new one today and it fired right up....unfortunately only on 3 cyl.
This almost made me sob ( lol ) as I had replaced a valve etc.
Anyway...traced it to one of the brand new "Champion" leads...piece of crap...on all 4 now
Now I just need a muffler.

Thanks for help on here!

 

glad i could help, just because you dont need help doesnt me you cant hang around

 

Oh I'll be by now and then. Since I'll be plating this for my kids to use...it'll need this and that.
Austin MINIs are my thing...now if anyone needs help with these....LMK ;-)