How Does an Ignition Work?
Introduction A vehicle’s ignition system provides the first steps required to start the engine. The primary goal of the system is to ignite the fuel-air mixture so that the resulting energy can power the motor. A variety of ignition system designs have been used throughout the years. However, modern cars utilize an electric spark to initiate combustion. Ignition Components Modern car engine ignition systems consist of a distributor, ignition coil, spark plugs and spark plug wires. The entire system is connected to the engine’s battery. The distributor is the most complex and integral component of the system, and includes a rotating cam, condenser, rotor and distributor cap. How it Works The ignition coil is the component that connects directly to the vehicle’s battery and includes two transformer windings. The primary winding feeds into the distributor, while the secondary winding connects to the spark plugs. The distributor’s cam rotates in unison with the engine’s compression cycle.
