Ignition system
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Ignition systems are used by heat engines to initiate combustion by igniting the fuel-air mixture. In a spark ignition versions of the internal combustion engine, the ignition system creates a spark t
Coil-on-plug ignition device
Distributor cap
Ignition magneto
Rotor contacts inside distributor cap
Distributor
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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
Ignition system
…preheat the combustion chamber to aid starting in cold weather. Early cars used ignition magneto and trembler coil systems, which were superseded by Distributor-based systems (first used in 1912). Electronic ignition systems (first used in 1968) became common towards the end of the 20th century, with coil-on-plug…
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.