ASE P2 Test Prep: Ignition Sytem

ASE P2 Test Prep: Ignition Sytem

Information to help parts professonals pass the ASE P2 test.

SPARK PLUGS
Spark plugs provide a source of ignition in each cylinder of a gasoline-powered engine. High voltage from an ignition coil passes down through the spark plug’s conductive core and jumps across an electrode gap at the end of the plug to create a spark. This ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and produces power.

The center electrode in a spark plug is surrounded by an insulating ceramic shell. The "heat range" (operating temperature) of the spark plug depends on the length and shape of the ceramic insulator. The spark plug has to run hot enough so that fuel deposits don’t build up on the tip, foul the electrode and cause it to misfire. But it also has to conduct enough heat away from the tip so that the tip doesn’t get too hot when the engine is under load and cause preignition. Many spark plugs have a "copper core" center electrode that improves heat conduction and gives the plug a broader operating range.

Spark plugs are designed for specific engine applications. The diameter, length and pitch of the threads that screw into the cylinder head must match the engine along with the heat range. How far the tip of the spark plug extends into the combustion chamber (called "reach") must also be correct for the application, otherwise the tip of the plug may hit the piston or valves. Always follow the spark plug listings in your plug supplier’s catalog or data base.

The distance across the electrode gap at the end of the spark plug must be within specifications for the engine application. If the gap is too narrow, the spark may not be long enough to ignite the fuel mixture reliably Ñ resulting in ignition misfire. If the gap is too wide, there may not be enough available voltage to create a spark Ñ also causing ignition misfire. Most spark plugs are pregapped at the factory, but the gap should always be checked and readjusted if necessary when new spark plugs are installed. If your customer does not have a spark plug gapping tool, recommend one.

Over time, the electrodes erode and wear as the miles accumulate. This increases the gap and the voltage required to fire the spark plug. Most conventional spark plugs have a recommended replacement interval of 45,000 miles. To extend plug life, platinum and other exotic metals are used to improve the wear resistance of the electrodes. Platinum plugs cost more than regular plugs, but typically last up to 100,000 miles. Some of these plugs also have additional ground electrodes to reduce wear even more.

To improve ignition performance, some manufacturers offer spark plugs with special electrode configurations that expose more spark to the air/fuel mixture. Performance plugs reduce misfires and improve fuel economy and power, and are a good upgrade for customers who need the ultimate in ignition performance.

IGNITION COILS
Ignition coils provide the high-voltage current for the spark plugs. The coil is a transformer that steps up battery voltage (12 volts) to tens of thousands of volts in order to create a strong spark. Inside the coil are two sets of copper wire windings, one inside the other. The primary windings are made up of several hundred loops of heavy wire around the iron core of the coil. The secondary windings consist of several thousand turns of very fine wire inside the primary windings.

When battery voltage flows through the primary windings, the coil becomes a very strong electromagnet. When the ignition module shuts off the primary current, the magnetic field collapses and induces a high-voltage surge in the secondary windings. The high voltage is then routed from the coil to the spark plugs to create a spark.

Older vehicles with distributors typically have a single coil. The coil may be an oil-filled "can" type mounted near the distributor, an epoxy round or square coil, or a compact coil that mounts inside the top of the distributor cap (GM HEI distributors). Some import ignitions have two coils.

On newer engines with distributorless ignition systems (DIS), the engine may have a coil pack that shares one coil for every two cylinders (a "waste spark" DIS system), or there may be a separate coil for each cylinder. If the coil is mounted directly over the spark plug (no plug wires), it is called a "coil-on-plug" (COP) ignition system.

Cracks in the coil housing or carbon tracks around the high-voltage output terminal can cause ignition misfire. Internal shorts or openings in the coil windings can reduce its voltage output, causing hard starting and ignition misfire. If the coil fails, an engine with a distributor-type ignition will not run. If a single coil on a DIS or COP ignition system fails, it will cause a misfire only in the cylinder(s) supplied by the coil.

On some DIS ignitions, the entire coil pack must be replaced if only a single coil has failed. On others, the coils can be replaced individually.

IGNITION CABLES
Ignition cables carry voltage from the coil to the spark plugs. Ignition cables come in various types (suppression and solid core), use different types of insulating and jacketing materials (silicone, EPDM, etc.) and come in different lengths and diameters (seven and eight millimeter). Replacement cables must be the same size and length as the original. Cables may be replaced individually or in complete sets (cables should be changed one at a time to avoid mixing up the firing order). Recommend a complete set if more than one of the original cables is bad. Replacement is needed if internal resistance in a cable exceeds specifications, the cable is damaged (cracked or burned insulation, or visible arcing or misfiring when the engine is running), or the plug boots or terminals fit poorly or are loose.

DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR
The distributor cap and rotor direct high voltage from the coil to each individual spark plug in a specific firing sequence. The rotor inside the cap is usually driven off the camshaft. As the rotor turns, the high-voltage current from the coil enters the center terminal of the cap, goes to the rotor and then jumps from the tip of the rotor to the nearest spark plug terminal. As the rotor passes under the next spark plug terminal, the coil fires again and the spark goes to that plug, and so on.

Over time, the tip of the rotor and the terminals inside the distributor cap can become worn and covered with deposits that interfere with the spark. The cap and rotor should be inspected when the spark plugs are changed and replaced as needed. A cracked cap or rotor may cause ignition misfire or prevent the engine from running.

DISTRIBUTOR
The routes the spark from the coil to each of the spark plugs. Mounted on the engine and driven by the camshaft, the distributor turns at half engine speed. The cap and rotor are mounted on the distributor.

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