1. Auto Upkeep Basic Car Care, Maintenance, and Repair (2nd Edition)
Chapter 1 - Introduction and How Cars Wor
Auto Upkeep Basic Car Care, Maintenance, and Repair (2nd Edition)
Chapter 13
Ignition System
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

2. Chapter 1 - Introduction and How Cars Wor
Fuel for Thought
What is required for an engine to run?
How have ignition system advancements reduced required maintenance intervals?
Why is it important to set the correct gap on a spark plug?
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

3. © 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing www.AutoUpkeep.com
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter and activities, you will be able to:
Define the purpose of the ignition system.
Identify ignition system generations.
Define and discuss the importance of the ignition system components while relating them to their respective generation.
Test and perform basic service procedures on the ignition system.
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

4. Ignition System Purpose
Step up voltage
From 12 volts to up to 100,000 volts
Ignite the air-fuel mixture
Ignition takes place during the “power” stroke
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

5. Ignition System Generations
Conventional ignition system
1920s to 1970s
Distributor ignition (DI) system
Mid 1970s to early 1990s
Electronic ignition (EI) system
1990s to current models
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

6. Ignition System Components
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

7. Ignition System Components
Battery
12-volt DC
Distributor cap and rotor
Ignition Module
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

8. Ignition System Components
Ignition Coil and Coil Packs
Steps up voltage
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

9. Ignition System Components
Spark plug wires
Transfers the high voltage from the distributor cap/coil packs to the spark plugs
Not used on COP systems
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

10. Ignition System Components
Spark plugs
Center electrode commonly copper, platinum, or iridium
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

11. Ignition System Components
Crankshaft and camshaft sensors
Keep track of piston and valve positions to efficiently time the spark
Powertrain control module
Precisely determines when the spark is needed to ignite the air-fuel mixture
Uses sensor inputs to determine spark timing
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing

12. © 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing www.AutoUpkeep.com
Summary
The ignition system is designed to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
Three generations
Conventional
Distributor
Electronic
Chapter 13
© 2007 Rolling Hills Publishing