Essential Tips to Perform Ignition System Checks

The job of the ignition system is to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber at the correct time to ensure efficient combustion and power generation by the engine.

And if your car is not starting, one of the common reason can be an ignition system problem.

Therefore, always inspect the ignition system as it takes only a few minutes and guards against a frequent cause of the breakdown.

In order to diagnose problems in the ignition system, you can check the following important parts of the engine.

If your spark plugs are corroded, dirty or are not spaced properly, then it could possibly cause ignition failure. Start with a spark test to check the overall function of the ignition system. And if you do not get a spark at the wire, then check the coil and ignition system

To check the coil, disconnect the coil to distributor wire from the distributor, connect it to the spark plug tester and then check for spark by cranking the motor. If you find there is the spark at the coil, then the coil is not the issue. You can also test the coil with a voltmeter and the reading should be within 0.5 volts of battery voltage

If the spark plug wire between the coil and distributor goes bad, then you will lose spark on all cylinders and it will cause complete ignition failure. The easiest way to test your spark plug wires is to put a digital ohm meter on them and check the resistance. Check that the low tension connections are tight and free from corrosion and there are no cracks, kinks or breaks

In the case of the distributor, first check the cap and the rotor as they wear out more frequently and then inspect the distributor itself. You can test the distributor with the help of an ohm meter. Also, note the condition on the pickup coil inside the distributor and this can be done by using the service information for your car

Also, check the ignition module or the wires that connect it to the other parts of the system. Make sure that the wires are not broken and the connection terminals are not corroded. Make sure that the coil is fixed firmly in its mountings and also check it using a meter for continuity