Engine Ignition: Notes

The ignition system contains the:

• Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor.
• ignition coil.
• spark plug wire.
• spark plug.

The ignition system is:

• an electronic distributorless ignition system and is controlled by an electronic engine control integrated into the PCM.
• set at 10 degrees Before Top Dead Center (BTDC) for base timing and is not adjustable.

The CKP sensor:

• is a variable reluctance sensor.
• senses a missing tooth on the crankshaft damper pulse ring.
• generates a crankshaft position signal which is sent to the PCM. The PCM counts this signal for engine rpm.

For information on the CKP sensor, refer to ENGINE CONTROLS - ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS article.

The ignition coil:

• changes low-voltage pulses from the PCM to high-voltage pulses.
• has 3 transformers.
• fires 2 spark plugs simultaneously.

Spark plug wires carry high-voltage pulses from the ignition coil to the spark plugs.

The spark plugs:

• change high-voltage pulses to spark at the gap, which ignites the fuel and air mixture.

The firing order is: 1-4-2-5-3-6.