How to Determine if the Igniter is Faulty?
2 Answers
Igniter is the core component of the electronic ignition system. The basic approach to check whether the igniter is functioning properly is to input the corresponding signal voltage to the signal input terminal of the igniter, and then examine the switching on and off of the high-power transistor in the igniter under the influence of the signal voltage. If the high-power transistor can switch on and off as required under the influence of the signal voltage, it indicates that the igniter is in good condition; otherwise, the igniter can be judged as damaged. There are roughly three main types of igniters: 1. Electronic pulse igniter: Due to its low power, the pulse type has a small ignition energy and produces a low spark temperature. For some gases with high ignition points and low-concentration mixed gases, the ignition rate is relatively low when used with a blower burner, often leading to ignition failures or explosive combustion and other safety accidents. Long-term and non-continuous ignition can easily burn out the fuel burner. 2. Electronic high-frequency high-voltage igniter: It has high power and ignition energy, producing a high spark temperature, but the ignition time generally does not exceed 5 minutes; otherwise, it is prone to overheating and burning out. It is also large and heavy, making installation and transportation difficult. 3. Coil silicon steel sheet igniter: It has high power and energy, producing a high spark temperature, with an ignition time of about 10 minutes; otherwise, it is prone to overheating and burning out. It is relatively small and light, but domestic products generally have poor quality, with imports occupying 90% of the market.
As an experienced car enthusiast with over 20 years of driving, I've noticed that when the ignition system fails, starting the car becomes particularly difficult. Turning the key results in either no engine response or a dull sound. During operation, the engine shakes like an earthquake, struggles to accelerate, and even climbing small slopes becomes laborious. When idling in neutral, the RPM becomes unstable, and the dashboard indicators fluctuate wildly.
My first step would be to pull out the spark plug wire to check if the spark color is a strong blue-purple. If there's no spark or it's weak, the ignition coil is likely the issue. Next, I'd inspect the wiring connections for looseness or corrosion, and use a multimeter to measure the coil resistance - primary winding should be 0.5-1.5 ohms, secondary winding several thousand ohms. Any abnormality in these readings confirms damage.
Regular maintenance can prevent these problems. Older cars are prone to ignition system failures - don't delay, get to a repair shop promptly.
