HELP!!!! No Spark

I have a 1988 Escort , manual transmission ,121000 miles, CFI 1.9 Engine code 9 that died while I was driving 45 mph on my way home from work. Got it towed home. My car cranks but does not start, I did a spark test and found no spark at the end of the spark plug wire. Then I tried to get a spark from the coil wire and there was nothing. I checked the voltage at the coil and there was voltage present of 11.93 V . I replaced the distributer cap and rotor and all spark plug wires but still no spark. I took the distributer off and checked the ignition module at autozone and it checked out fine. I also replaced the ignition coil .I checked the fuel pressure and it was up to spec, even checked the timing belt and timing marks and all was in order. The battery is fully charged with a voltage of 12.8 , it's been getting very frustrating trying to find out what else it could be, something I forgot to mention, the strangest thing is , as I crank the car the fuel gauge needle goes from full all the way down and as I stop cranking the engine while the ignition is on , the gauge needle goes back up. Can anyone please help????
Any suggestions are welcome
Thank you

I think when the key is in start position it does not power the gages. Notice the radio will turn off when starting? Same deal. When you checked coil did you check the power coming out of the coil? There may be power going in but not coming out. IF the coil is good then you could have a bad crankshaft position sensor or cam position sensor. I'm thinkin' coil.

Thanks AzTumbleweed I appreciate your post , there is no crankshaft or cam position sensor , its a 1988 escort .However there is a pick-up coil in the distributor , that send a signal to the car computer. Maybe that might be bad ........trying to figure out how to test that . I did test the ignition coil voltage going in and also coming out ...........all is good.i did replace the ignition coil . I also test the ignition coil connector and is good. I even tested the ignition module connector harness as and all 6 pins are in order . I own my escort 6 yrs and never saw that problem with the fuel gauge untill the car broke down . Thank you AZ for pointing me to the direction of the pick up coil will get it check or replace . Any other suggestion are welcome .

The fuel gage moves real slow. Normally your car probably fires right up and therefore it doesn't move a noticeable amount. But with the no-spark condition you are probably cranking the engine for a much longer period of time than normal. This gives it a chance to move. Let us know what you find :p

Just out of curiosity......Check the power going to the coil while the engine is cranking. You probably have been checking it with the ignition switch in the on position. I think that sometimes a bad ignition switch will power the coil in the ignition position but not the 'start' position. A workmate of mine had an '88 Escort and I looked at it for him because it wouldn't start. I remember that to keep his running you had to wiggle the key around. A result of burned contacts in the ignition switch. :confused:

An update ..........change the stator in the distributor didnt help the problem . I also changed the ignition switch still nothing .........no spark. At this point I am praying for a storm to come my way and strike a lighting on that escort just to see a spark on the ford . IS THERE ANYBODY IN THIS FORUM THAT CAN GIVE ME ANY MORE ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO WITH IT NEXT . PLEASE HELP

Doesn't it have an ignition control unit of some kind? In the 80's Ford had something called TFI ignition. These were famous for failing when hot. There were even lawsuits over it. It sounds like that. You've done everything I would have done.

Did you check to see if the timing belt was broken? Just a thought. If the belt was broken or stripped, then the distributor wouldn't turn and the coil wouldn't fire, right?

An update ..............i finally got my car to spark, it was the ecu all this time . I got one from the local junkyark which cost me $15 but it took me more than 2 hrs to find and replace the old one . The ecu was located under the front dashboard on the left handside . To be exact just above the left handside of the steering shaft. Now i can enjoy my old 1988 escort . I would like to say a speacial thank you to AZTHUMBLEWEED and LAWton_kid and everyone esle who tried to help me on here .