Ignition Control Module: Description and Operation

Ignition Control System:

PURPOSE
Controls ignition discharge by interrupting the ignition coil primary current ground. The ignitor is a solid state component.

LOCATION
On the firewall.

OPERATION
The ignitor is a switching device used to interrupt the ignition coil ground connection and induce high voltage from the coil secondary windings. A signal from the ECM controls ignitor switching, enabling the ECM to regulate ignition timing based engine operating condition information received from various sensors.

Six signals are sent to the ignitor module, one for each cylinder, whenever the engine is running. The signals are an on/off pulse, telling the ignitor when to fire each individual coil.