coil fire??

latest in saga. went to town this a m ( 30 mi) traded in coil for new one. come home and put it on, hit remote and had intermetent light at neg ole at coil, at little spark out the big coil wire, nothin at plug wire, check it again at coil, hot at pos dead at neg! check current at ( new) ballast, notheither side, check at starter relay, hot there ans hot in and out firewall. i did feel some heat at back of ballast. minute later current at both sides of ballast, nothin neg side of coil. huh!??? did i fry this coil? says to use resister with it. are they talking about condensor or??? do i have a short? will i figure it out without some sort of voly meter and brains to run it!???? LOL i will thanks you guys for any help. i really do appreciate everyone's efforts.