ignition coil or distributor?

Could a faulty ignition coil cause an engine to stop running as well as make it difficult to start? Or does it become redundant after engine is started? or is it more likely to be distributor?

thx

usualy all voltage wil stop in the electrical system, [from as far back as the battery to your spark plugs] there will be no voltage so you either blame one of two thing. First you blame the ignition coil and its a fair conclusion. If you dont have a working ignition coil how will you power the distributor how wil the voltage be charged and detonated as it should be to corresponding spark plugs. It could also be the small parts in distributor sum times they get old and rusty. Its a good idea to look at your distributor and its conducting parts to check them.

in short if your ignition coil goes yes the engine will be hard to start. You will hear the starter motor turning the engine and gas pumping properly. the car might start some times cuz you get lucky with the bad ignition coil small changes do affect the coil in large scale if you think about it. i would check the ignition coil you can test them or buy a new one easily

Just replace your cap, coil, and rotor and it should run fine. Believe me, they make a HUGE difference, as well as plugs and wires. I took the cap off of my truck back in January, and it was corroded pretty bad. I replaced pretty much entire ignition and when i pulled the wire off of the coil corrosion dust just fell out, yeah, it was bad I know. Coils are the most expensive part, for my 92 350 Chevy it's around 50 bucks. But cap and rotor isn't too bad, 10 bucks at the most.

A little more info from you wouldn't be too bad either, when was the last tune up that you know of?

Thanks for all your help guys. Will replace cap, rotor & plugs first then take it from there.
For info - car is a 1990 renault espace 2.0 (UK spec carboretter model). picked it up about a year ago and was led to believe it was serviced then. I'm just trying to get it running good and sell it on.

Thanks again!!