Ignition System: Description and Operation

The ignition is an electronically triggered system that uses conventional centrifugal and vacuum components to control ignition advance. When the ignition key is turned on, battery voltage is supplied to the positive side of the primary and secondary windings of the ignition coil. As the engine turns the magnetic field at the Igniter (located in the Distributor) is interrupted by the reluctor, and the igniter removes ground from the coil. When this occurs it cuts the voltage to the primary windings in the ignition coil. This causes the magnetic field surrounding the primary windings to collapse and a voltage surge is created in the secondary windings of the ignition coil. High voltage (approximately 20,000 volts) flows out of the coil, through the coil wire and into the center electrode of the distributor cap. Inside the distributor is a shaft that is spinning at 1/2 of the engine speed (same speed as the camshaft). Mounted to the top of this shaft is the distributor rotor. The voltage then passes to the distributor rotor through the spring loaded carbon point. The rotor then conducts the voltage to 1 of 4 electrodes in the distributor cap, depending upon rotational position. The voltage passes out of the distributor, into the ignition wire and into the corresponding spark plug. The voltage then jumps the gap at the spark plug electrode completing the path to ground, igniting the fuel mixture.