Ignition System: Description and Operation

ELECTRONIC IGNITION (EI) SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

ELECTRONIC IGNITION (EI) SYSTEM OPERATION
The electronic ignition (EI) system produces and controls the high energy secondary spark. This spark ignites the compressed air/fuel mixture at precisely the correct time, providing optimal performance, fuel economy, and control of exhaust emissions. The engine control module (ECM) primarily collects information from the crankshaft position (CKP) and camshaft position (CMP) sensors to control the sequence, dwell, and timing of the spark.

CRANKSHAFT POSITION (CKP) SENSOR
The crankshaft position (CKP) sensor circuits consist of an engine control module (ECM) supplied 5-volt reference circuit, low reference circuit and an output signal circuit. The CKP sensor is an internally magnetic biased digital output integrated circuit sensing device. The sensor detects magnetic flux changes of the teeth and slots of a 58-tooth reluctor wheel on the crankshaft. Each tooth on the reluctor wheel is spaced at 60-tooth spacing, with 2 missing teeth for the reference gap. The CKP sensor produces an ON/OFF DC voltage of varying frequency, with 58 output pulses per crankshaft revolution. The frequency of the CKP sensor output depends on the velocity of the crankshaft. The CKP sensor sends a digital signal, which represents an image of the crankshaft reluctor wheel, to the ECM as each tooth on the wheel rotates past the CKP sensor. The ECM uses each CKP signal pulse to determine crankshaft speed and decodes the crankshaft reluctor wheel reference gap to identify crankshaft position. This information is then used to determine the optimum ignition and injection points of the engine. The ECM also uses CKP sensor output information to determine the camshaft relative position to the crankshaft, to control camshaft phasing, and to detect cylinder misfire.

CRANKSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL
The crankshaft reluctor wheel is part of the crankshaft. The reluctor wheel contains a pattern around the circumference of the wheel consisting of 58 teeth and a reference gap. Each tooth on the reluctor wheel is spaced at 60 tooth spacing, or 6 degrees apart from each other with 2 missing teeth or 12-degree space for the reference gap. The engine control module (ECM) uses the teeth and reference gap to determine the crankshaft position (CKP) and speed.

CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR
The camshaft position (CMP) sensor circuits consist of an engine control module (ECM) supplied 5-volt reference circuit, low reference circuit, and an output signal circuit. The CMP sensor is an internally magnetic biased digital output integrated circuit sensing device. The sensor detects magnetic flux changes of the teeth and slots of a 4-tooth reluctor wheel attached to the camshaft. As each reluctor wheel tooth rotates past the CMP sensor, the resulting change in the magnetic field is used by the sensor electronics to produce a digital output pulse. The sensor returns a digital ON/OFF DC voltage pulse of varying frequency, with 4 varying width output pulses per camshaft revolution that represent an image of the camshaft reluctor wheel. The frequency of the CMP sensor output depends on the velocity of the camshaft. The ECM decodes the narrow and wide tooth pattern to identify camshaft position. This information is then used to determine the optimum ignition and injection points of the engine. The CMP sensor does not directly affect the operation of the ignition system. The ECM also uses CMP sensor output information to determine the camshaft relative position to the crankshaft, to control camshaft phasing, and for limp-home operation.

CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR WHEEL
The camshaft reluctor wheel is part of the camshaft. The wheel contains a pattern around the circumference, consisting of 2 narrow teeth and 2 wide teeth. The 4 falling/trailing edges of all 4 teeth are evenly spaced 90 degrees apart. The engine control module (ECM) decodes the narrow and wide tooth pattern to identify camshaft position.

KNOCK SENSOR (KS)
The knock sensor (KS) system enables the control module to control the ignition timing for the best possible performance while protecting the engine from potentially damaging levels of detonation. The control module uses the KS system to test for abnormal engine noise that may indicate detonation, also known as spark knock.

The KS system uses one or two flat response two-wire sensors. The sensor uses piezo-electric crystal technology that produces an AC voltage signal of varying amplitude and frequency based on the engine vibration or noise level. The amplitude and frequency are dependant upon the level of knock that the KS detects. The control module receives the KS signal through a signal circuit. The KS ground is supplied by the control module through a low reference circuit.

The control module learns a minimum noise level, or background noise, at idle from the KS and uses calibrated values for the rest of the RPM range. The control module uses the minimum noise level to calculate a noise channel. A normal KS signal will ride within the noise channel. As engine speed and load change, the noise channel upper and lower parameters will change to accommodate the normal KS signal, keeping the signal within the channel. In order to determine which cylinders are knocking, the control module only uses KS signal information when each cylinder is near top dead center (TDC) of the firing stroke. If knock is present, the signal will range outside of the noise channel.

If the control module has determined that knock is present, it will retard the ignition timing to attempt to eliminate the knock. The control module will always try to work back to a zero compensation level, or no spark retard. An abnormal KS signal will stay outside of the noise channel or will not be present. KS diagnostics are calibrated to detect faults with the KS circuitry inside the control module, the KS wiring, or the KS voltage output. Some diagnostics are also calibrated to detect constant noise from an outside influence such as a loose/damaged component or excessive engine mechanical noise.

IGNITION CONTROL MODULE (ICM)/COILS
There are 3 dual-tower ignition coils that are part of the ignition control module (ICM). The ICM contains coil driver circuits that command the coils to operate. The ICM has the following circuits:
- An ignition voltage circuit
- A ground circuit
- An IC 1 control circuit for the 1-4 ignition coil
- An IC 2 control circuit for the 2-5 ignition coil
- An IC 3 control circuit for the 3-6 ignition coil
- A low reference circuit

The ECM controls each dual-tower ignition coil by transmitting timing pulses on the IC control circuit to the ICM for the proper coil to enable a spark event.

The spark plugs are connected to each coil tower by spark plug wires. The spark plug wires conduct the spark energy from the coil to the spark plug. The spark plug electrode is tipped with platinum for long wear and higher efficiency.

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM)
The ECM controls all ignition system functions, and constantly corrects the basic spark timing. The ECM monitors information from various sensor inputs that include the following:
- The throttle actuator control (TAC) system
- The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
- The mass airflow (MAF) sensor
- The intake air temperature (IAT) sensor
- The vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
- The transmission gear position or range information sensors
- The engine knock sensor (KS)