Distributor: Description and Operation
PURPOSEDistributes secondary current produced in the ignition coil through the rotor to the distributor cap, where it is directed to the correct cylinder.
DESIGN FEATURES
The distributor ignition system has a camshaft-driven distributor, which contains the Camshaft Position (CMP) sensor. The CMP sensor monitors engine speed (rpm) and piston position and sends signals to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).
0PERATION
The CMP sensor uses a rotor plate and a wave-forming circuit. The rotor plate has 360 slits for one degree signals, and six slits for 120 degree signals. When the rotor plate passes between the Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and the photo diode built into the wave-forming circuit, an input signal is generated and sent to the PCM. This signal notifies the PCM of the engine speed at one degree intervals; and the position of the camshaft at 120 degree intervals.