Direct Ignition System (Dis)

DIS is a distributorless system used on 3.1L and 3.4L models. The 2.3L uses a similar system referred to as the Integrated Direct Ignition (IDI) system. The operation of both DIS and IDI is quite similar to operation of the C(3)I system. Systems consist of 2 (4-cylinder), 3 (V6) or 4 (V8) ignition coils, spark plug wires, ignition module (located under coil pack), a crankshaft position sensor, necessary wiring and knock control system portion of the PCM. On 2.3L, coils, module and spark plug connectors are all combined into one unit which plugs directly onto spark plugs.

Spark is timed by a signal sent from a crankshaft position sensor mounted through side of engine block instead of from a crankshaft position sensor mounted at crankshaft pulley (such as C(3)I). This signal is received by PCM (through ignition module) and is used to trigger each coil at the proper time. See CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR under INPUT DEVICES  . As with the C(3)I system, each cylinder is fired consecutively with the cylinder opposite it in the firing order. On V8, cylinder No. 1 is paired with No. 4, No. 2 with No. 5, No. 3 with No. 8 and No. 6 with No. 7. On V6, cylinder No. 1 is paired with No. 4, No. 2 with No. 5, and No. 3 with No. 6. On 4-cylinder, cylinder No. 1 is paired with No. 4 and cylinder No. 2 is paired with No. 3. Each pair of cylinders is fired by its own ignition coil.

On all models, crankshaft position sensor is mounted on bottom of DIS ignition module or near the ignition module.

The reluctor is a piece of metal, cast with the crankshaft. On all engines, reluctor has 7 slots machined into it, 6 of which are equally spaced (60 degrees apart). The seventh slot is spaced about 10 degrees from one of the other slots and generates a synchronization pulse signal. On 4.6L engines, reluctor has 24 evenly spaced notches machined into it and an additional 8 unevenly spaced notches for a total of 32. On all engines, as crankshaft rotates, notches in reluctor ring change the magnetic field at the tip of position sensor. This creates an induced AC voltage signal in the sensor windings, resulting in RPM reference signals which are sent to PCM by the ignition module. This allows PCM to compute crankshaft position and RPM.