Automobile Engineering Practice Test: Ignition System — Flashcards

An ignition system is a system in an internal-combustion engine that generates a spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture. It includes the battery, ignition coil, distributor, spark plugs, and associated switches and wiring. 

The purpose of an ignition system is to generate a very high voltage from the car's 12-volt battery and send it to each spark plug in turn, igniting the fuel-air mixture in the engine's combustion chambers. The burning of this mixture in the cylinders produces the motive force. 

There are three basic types of automotive ignition systems:
Distributor-based
Distributor-less
Coil-on-plug (COP) 

Here are some types of ignition systems:
Battery ignition system: Relies on an electrical power source, usually a lead-acid battery, to generate the high-voltage sparks needed to ignite the fuel-air mixture within the engine cylinders.
Magneto ignition system: A magneto is responsible for creating high-voltage energy, which generates electricity that helps a vehicle run. For example, a distributor and a generator are built as a single unit in a magneto ignition system.
Inductive discharge system: Consists of a magnet on the flywheel that passes by a fixed electrical coil. The electrical coil is connected to one or two spark plugs, often through a transformer (to boost the voltage) and/or an interrupter (to control the timing).