Distributor
Videos
A distributor is an electric and mechanical device used in the ignition system of older spark-ignition engines. The distributor's main function is to route electricity from the ignition coil to each s
Distributor (side view) with input shaft (bottom) and vacuum advance unit (top right)
Breaker arm with contact points at the left. The pivot is on the right and the cam follower is in the middle of the breaker arm.
Distributor cap. At the center is a spring-loaded carbon button that touches the rotor. The number of contacts (in this case 4) is the same as the number of engine cylinders.
Rotor. This rotates at the same speed as the camshaft, one half the speed of the crankshaft.
Ignition coil
Videos
An ignition coil is used in the ignition system of a spark-ignition engine to transform the battery voltage to the much higher voltages required to operate the spark plug. The spark plugs then use thi
Distributor
…and mechanical device used in the ignition system of older spark-ignition engines. The distributor's main function is to route electricity from the ignition coil to each spark plug at the correct time. A distributor consists of a rotating arm ('rotor') that is attached to the top of a rotating 'distributor shaft…
Ignition coil for a distributor-based ignition system (1960–1980 Saab 96)
Coil-on-plug ignition coil (2011 Honda Odyssey)
Cross-section view of an coil-on-plug ignition coil
Ignition module for a 2003–2010 GM Z18XE engine