How Do Automotive Ignition Systems Work?
Ignition System Parts Automotive ignition systems are made up of several key components. The trigger device is the ignition module or points, and these supply energy to the coil. The ignition coil multiplies the energy supplied by the module and supplies that energy to the distributor cap and rotor. The spark plugs receive this energy from the cap and rotor through the ignition cables or plug wires and provide a spark to ignite the fuel. Each of these is important to the operation of the ignition system, but to really understand how the system works, some basic theory is needed. Theory Over the years, the way in which the coil is triggered has changed, but the theory is the same. The theory of Magnetic Inductance says that when a current is passed through a conductor, a magnetic field builds around that conductor. When the current is stopped, the field collapses and a voltage is induced into the conductor by the collapsing magnetic field. If another conductor is placed in close proximi
