Redneck if you wanna become a diesel mechanic great! Better to go to school and learn something then sponge off the government or become some crackhead stripper or hooker. DOnt listen to these foo's. Hope it works out for you.
Best way to figure out if you cdi is bad is to swap out with another box that you know is good. Or you can buy a used one. But I would check all your connections and check your ground.