Ignition Rotor: Description and Operation

Ignition Rotor:

The distributor rotor is secured to the distributor shaft which rotates at the rpm of the camshaft. The distributor, cap, and rotor are set so that when a spark is generated by the ignition coil, the rotor points to the appropriate terminal of the distributor cap and the spark energy is directed to the correct cylinder through the ignition wires.
The electrode in the rotor is not a metal conductor. Instead, Audi uses a resistor rotor for static suppression and to help provide a higher energy spark to the spark plugs. The rotor has a resistance of approximately 1,000 ohms.