Trouble code 42 on 94 Astro Van, Z engine

The check engine light comes on periodically on my 94 Astro Van 198,000 miles and I get a trouble code 42 (Ignition Control (IC) circuit) when I use the paper clip across A and B. Does this indicate that the ignition control module in the distributor is bad or could it also be something else. The car continues to run but is somewhat sluggish and the engine jumps at around 45 mph and then does better after 50 mph. Thanks in advance for any help.

IIRC when I had that problem on another vehicle it turned out to be the knock sensor. If the ignition module was bad, the van wouldn't start...

Today I had the same problem in my '89 astrovan; engine was running slugguish, connected analyzer and showed, ignition fire missing on primary and secondary ignition systems, scaner showed failure code 42, I replaced Ignition Control Module, Distributor cao and rotor, and started to work beautiful.

The check engine light comes on periodically on my 94 Astro Van 198,000 miles and I get a trouble code 42 (Ignition Control (IC) circuit) when I use the paper clip across A and B. Does this indicate that the ignition control module in the distributor is bad or could it also be something else. The car continues to run but is somewhat sluggish and the engine jumps at around 45 mph and then does better after 50 mph. Thanks in advance for any help.

Just a short followup on this subject. I finally got time over the weekend to work on the above car. Unplugged and cleaned the connectors to the ignition control module, replugged and reset the computer and the car has been fine this week. Must have been a bad connection which helps to explain the intermittent nature of the problem. Thanks for all who responded.