Engine Ignition: Notes

The ignition system consists of the following:

• Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor
• Ignition coil
• Spark plug wires
• Spark plugs

The CKP  sensor:

• is a variable reluctance sensor.
• is mounted on the engine front cover.
• is triggered by a 36-minus-1 tooth trigger wheel located on the crankshaft damper pulse ring.
• provides ignition timing and crankshaft speed to the PCM.

The ignition coil:

• changes low-voltage pulses from the PCM to high-voltage pulses.
• fires 2 spark plugs simultaneously.
• has 3 transformers.
  • One transformer fires the spark plugs for cylinders 1 and 5
  • One transformer fires the spark plugs for cylinders 2 and 6
  • One transformer fires the spark plugs for cylinders 3 and 4

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.