1.10. Knowing the parts of a vehicle: Ignition system

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1.10 Knowing the parts of a vehicle: Ignition System

The ignition system is a fundamental part of any vehicle. He is responsible for starting the combustion process in the engine, which in turn makes the car move. Understanding how this system works is critical for anyone wanting to become an expert in vehicle maintenance. In this section, we'll explore in detail the components of the ignition system and how they work together to make your car run.

Ignition System Components

A vehicle's ignition system is made up of several major components. These include the ignition switch, ignition switch, ignition coil, distributor, spark plug wires, spark plugs and the ignition control module. Each of these components plays a vital role in the ignition process and is essential for the vehicle to function properly.

Ignition Key and Ignition Switch

The ignition key is the part of the system that you use to start the ignition process. When you insert the key into the ignition and turn it, you are activating the ignition switch. This is an electrical device that starts the ignition process by sending an electrical current to the ignition coil.

Ignition Coil

The ignition coil is a crucial component that transforms the low voltage of the car battery into the high voltage that is needed to create the spark that starts the combustion process. The ignition coil has two windings of wire - the primary winding, which receives low voltage from the battery, and the secondary winding, which transforms this low voltage into high voltage.

Distributor

Once the high voltage is created, it needs to be sent to the spark plugs in the engine's combustion chambers. This is where the distributor comes in. The distributor is a device that distributes the high voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct order.

Spark Plug Wires and Spark Plugs

The spark plug wires carry the high voltage from the distributor to the spark plugs. Spark plugs are the components that actually create the spark that starts the combustion process. They do this by using high voltage to create a spark between two electrodes at the tip of the spark plug.

Ignition Control Module

Finally, the ignition control module is the "brain" of the ignition system. It controls ignition timing, ensuring the spark is created at just the right time for the most efficient combustion possible.

How the Ignition System Works

The ignition system starts working when you insert the key into the ignition and turn it. This activates the ignition switch, which sends an electrical current to the ignition coil. The ignition coil transforms this low voltage into high voltage, which is then sent to the distributor. The distributor sends the high voltage to the spark plugs through the spark plug wires, and the spark plugs use this high voltage to create a spark. This spark starts the combustion process, which makes the engine run.

Understanding how the ignition system works is the key to diagnosing and correcting ignition problems. If any one of these components fails, the car will not run properly. Therefore, it is essential for anyone servicing a vehicle to understand how these components work together and how to diagnose problems with each.

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