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A vehicle has many components which are crucial for its functioning. An automobile ignition system is one of them. All parts of an ignition system have to work in perfect sync, or your vehicle will not even start.
The following article will explore how ignition systems work in automobiles and their various types.
An ignition system is used in internal combustion engines to create an electric spark in the engine combustion chamber to ignite a petrol and air mixture. It is an integral component of automobiles often treated as the sub-section of the engine-management system.
The main function of a vehicle's ignition system is to ignite the air-fuel mixture in its internal combustion engine. To do this, it creates a high-voltage spark using its spark plugs which makes a car fuel burn, causing its pistons to turn its wheels.
An automobile ignition system must work in tandem with all other parts of an engine. So, igniting the fuel at the right time is necessary to make a vehicle function smoothly. The timing of a high-voltage electric spark depends on a vehicle’s load, speed and other factors.
Listed below are basic points on how the ignition system works:
Let us look at some important features in an automobile ignition system that creates a spark:
Discussed below are important points related to this feature:
The ignition coil is a high-voltage transformer with two wires coils—primary and secondary coils. Given below are some important points about this part of the automobile ignition system:
Listed below are important points:
Now, let us look at various types of ignition systems in automobiles used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines. Generally, it can be categorised into three types:
As mentioned before, the main function of an ignition system is to facilitate an electric spark in the engine combustion chamber at the right time. Let us take a detailed look at how this works for different automobile ignition systems:
Listed below are important points:
Here are the important points on this automobile ignition system:
Listed below are its essential points:
Detailed below are some advantages of the different types of ignition systems:
Listed below are some disadvantages of different ignition systems:
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Generally, an ignition coil lasts for 100,000 miles or more. But there might be several reasons behind its premature damage. For instance, heat and moisture may cause damage to the copper wire inside the ignition coil.
Difficulty in starting a vehicle’s engine and poor fuel economy are some of the symptoms of a faulty ignition coil. Moreover, if a car engine misfires or stalls, it indicates a problem with the ignition coil.