Ignition System

• Provides a method of turning a spark ignition engine on & off.

• Operates on various supply voltages (Battery & Alternator)

• Produces high voltage arcs at the spark plug electrode.

• Distributes spark to each plug in correct sequence.

• Times the spark so that it occurs as the piston nears the TDC on the
compression stroke.

• Varies the ignition timing as engine speed, load and other conditions
change.
Introduction
 The combustion in the spark ignition engine is initiated by an
electrical discharge across the electrodes of a spark plug, which
usually occurs from 100 to 300 before TDC depending upon the
chamber geomentry and operating conditions.

 The Ignition system provides a spark of sufficient intensity to

ignite the air-fuel mixture at the predetermined position in the
engine cycle under all speeds and load conditions.

 In a 4-S, 4 cylinder engine operating at 3000 rpm, individual

cylinders required a spark at every second revolution and this
necessitates the frequency of firing to be (3000/2) x 4 = 6000
sparks per minutes or 100 sparks per seconds.
This shows that there is an extremely short interval of time
between firing impulses.
 Objectives
• Describe the functions of ignition system
parts
• Explain the operation of points, electronic,
and computer ignition systems
• Give an overview of the different spark
advance methods
• Describe distributorless and conventional
ignition distributor variations and operation
• Draw a wiring diagram showing the
primary and secondary ignition systems
• Ignition system
– Turns the engine on and off
– Creates a timed spark and distributes it to the
cylinders
• Spark is distributed to the spark plugs
• Jumps the gap and ignites air-fuel mixture
• Timing of the spark varies with engine speed
• Amount of time for fuel to burn in the cylinder is
constant
 Basic Ignition System
• Modern vehicles have computer-controlled
ignition systems
– Main ignition system categories
• Distributor ignition (DI)
• Electronic ignition (EI) (i.e., distributorless, direct
ignition, or coil over plug)
– All ignition types use battery, switch, coil,
switching device, and spark plugs
– Circuits
• Primary circuit: low-voltage (battery)
• Secondary circuit: high-voltage (spark)
 Primary Circuit
• Primary ignition system components
– Battery and charging system
– Ignition switch and coil primary windings
– Switching device
– Distributor cam lobes or crank/cam sensor
– Ground return path
• Battery voltage converted to high voltage
by ignition coil
– Spark jumps across gap at end of spark plug
• Spark timing is critical to power output
 Ignition Switch
• Multiposition
switch
– Powers the
ignition circuit
on and off
– Operates the
steering wheel
lock and a
buzzer or light
 Ignition Coil
• Heart of the ignition system
– Has a low-voltage primary winding and high-
voltage secondary winding
• Magnetic field
– Collapses when current flow is interrupted in
primary winding
• Magnetic lines of force
– Cut across the secondary windings and create
high voltage and low amperage
 Ignition Coil (cont'd.)
• Saturation
– Coil is saturated when magnetic field finished
its buildup inside coil
– Coil saturation time depends on amount of
current in primary winding
• Dwell
– Length of time current flows in primary
winding
– Determined by ignition control module
– Electronic ignition varies dwell time
 Secondary Ignition Parts
• Secondary circuit
– Delivers high voltage from coil to spark plugs
• Distributor ignition (DI) system
components
– Cam
– Distributor cap and rotor
• DI systems: electricity flows from coil to distributor
cap and rotor
• Distributor rotates at one-half crankshaft speed
• Spark plug cables are inserted in the distributor cap
following engine firing order
 Spark Plugs
• Spark ignites compressed air-fuel mixture
– Length of threaded area called reach
– Heat range indicates how fast heat travels away
from the center electrode
• Determined by how far ceramic insulator extends
into combustion chamber
– Spark plugs have a tapered seat or flat seat with
a gasket to seal against cylinder head
– There is controversy over long-life spark plugs
• Precious metals are used to prolong life
 Ignition Parts
BATTERY provides power for system.

IGNITION SWITCH allows driver to turn ignition on and off.

IGNITION COIL changes battery voltage to 30,000V during

normal operation and has a potential to produce up to 60,000V.

SWITCHING DEVICE mechanical or electronic switch that operates

Ignition coil(Pick-up coil, Crank sensor, Cam sensor).

SPARK PLUG uses high voltage from ignition coil to produce an arc
in the combustion chamber.

IGNITION SYSTEM WIRES connect components.

 Ignition Circuits
PRIMARY CIRCUIT
•Includes all the components
working on low voltage
(Battery, Alternator).

SECONDARY CIRCUIT
•Consists of wires and points
between coil out-put and the
spark plug ground.
 Ignition Coil
Primary Windings are made up of several
hundred turns of heavy wire wrapped around
or near the secondary windings.

Secondary Windings consist of several thousand

turns of very fine wire, located inside or near
the secondary windings.
 Distributor

•Actuates the on/off cycle of current flow through the ignition coil
primary windings.

•It distributes the coils high voltage to the plugs wires.

 Distributor

•It causes the spark to occur at each plug earlier in the compression
stroke as engine speed increases, and vice versa.

•Changes spark timing.

•Some distributor shafts operate the oil pump.

 Point Ignition System

PARTS Distributor Cam, Breaker Points, and Condenser.

 Point Ignition System

Points are wired in Primary Circuit – When the points are closed,
a magnetic field builds in the coil. When the points open, the field
collapses and voltage is sent to one of the spark plug.
 Cap Connector

Ceramic Body

Hexagon

Outer Casing

Copper Sealing Gasket

Securing Thread
Gap
Outer
Electrode

IGNITION SYSTEM – Spark Plug

 Cap Connector

Ceramic Body

Seal

Hexagon

Centre Electrode Outer Casing

Change Spark Plugs Copper Sealing Gasket

at specified times
Securing Thread

Make sure the correct These surfaces must be Outer

Spark Plug is fitted kept clean Electrode

IGNITION SYSTEM – Spark Plug

 Electronic Ignition System

•Trigger wheel passes by the pick-up coil.

•# of cylinders = # of teeth.
 Ignition Control Module
•An electronic switch that turns the ignition coil primary current on/off

LOCATION
•Engine compartment

•On the side of distributor

•Inside the distributor

•Under vehicle dash

 Distributor Cap

•Insulated plastic cap

•Transfers voltage from coil (wire) to Rotor.

 Distributor Rotor

•Transfers voltage from the distributor cap

center terminal(coil) to distributor cap
outer terminals(spark plugs).

•Provides spark in the correct Firing Order.

•Sometimes the firing order can be found

on the intake manifold.
Magneto Operation
Secondary
Coil
Windings

Primary
Windings

Soft Iron
Core

Engine
Driven Rotor
and Magnets

IGNITION SYSTEM
Principal -

Coil Volt
S N Windings Meter

Each time the magnetic field ‘washes’ through wires

An electrical current is produced

Called an EMF – Electro Motive Force

IGNITION SYSTEM – Faraday Law

Magneto Operation

EMF produced in
the coil windings

The magnetic
field passes
through soft
iron core

IGNITION SYSTEM
 No EMF produced
in the coil windings

No magnetic
field in soft iron
core

IGNITION SYSTEM
 EMF produced in
the coil windings
again

The magnetic
field passes
through soft
iron core again

IGNITION SYSTEM
 Rotor Arm
Magneto Unit
Spark Generation

Condenser

Power
Generation

Coil
Distribution

Contact
Magneto
Breaker

Ignition
Switch

IGNITION SYSTEM – Magneto System

Rotating Magnet Magneto
 Distributor
Condenser

Coil

Secondary
Windings

Primary
Ignition Windings
Contact
Switch Breaker

Dynamo/
Alternator

Battery

BATTERY IGNITION SYSTEM – Dynamo/Alternator System

 Typical Vacuum Advance
Distributor
Diaphragm Adjustable
Vacuum Plate
Chamber
Cap

‘Points’
Body Inlet
Pressure Cam Adjuster

Centrifugal
Advance

Input
Shaft Centrifugal
Weights

IGNITION SYSTEM – Distributor

 Engine Speed Sensing Unit

Timing
Timing Sensor
Disc
Control Unit

Ignition
Switch

Coil
Packs

Alternator

Battery

IGNITION SYSTEM – Electronic Systems

(CDI) Capacitor Discharge Ignition Circuit
Transistor Assisted Contacts (T.A.C.)
 Ignition Timing
How early or late the spark plug fires in relation to the position of the
engine piston.

Ignition timing must change with the changes in engine speed, load,
and temperature.
 Ignition Timing
Timing Advance occurs when the plug fires sooner on compression
stroke (High engine speed)

Timing Retard occurs when plug fires later on compression stroke

(Lower engine speed)

BASE TIMING Timing without vacuum or computer control.

 Methods of controlling Timing
Distributor Centrifugal Advance
•Controlled by engine speed.
•Consists of two weights and two springs.
•At high speeds the weights fly out(held by the springs), rotating the
cam, hence advancing the timing.
 Methods of controlling Timing
Vacuum Advance

•Controlled by engine intake manifold vacuum and engine load.

•The vacuum diaphragm rotates the pickup coil against the direction
of distributor shaft rotation.
 Methods of controlling Timing
Electronic Advance Sensors input influences the ignition timing.

•Crank shaft Position Sensor (RPM)

•Cam Position Sensor (tells which

cylinder is on compression stroke)

•Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP)

(engine vacuum and load)
 Methods of controlling Timing
Electronic Advance Sensors input influences the ignition timing.

•Intake Air Temperature Sensor

•Knock Sensor (Retards timing when pinging

or knocking is sensed)

•Throttle Position Sensor(TPS)

•Engine coolant Temperature