VIDEO: How Not To Test A Spark Plug
Contrary to popular belief, testing a spark plug outside the cylinder won’t give you accurate results. Find out why air pressure matters and how to properly perform the test by measuring secondary ignition waveforms with Andrew Markel. Sponsored by DENSO.
E3 Announces Full Line Of DiamondFIRE Ignition Products For Street And Race Performance
E3’s new DiamondFIRE billet distributor line was developed for street and most race series and is designed to have an OE fit for the most common Chevy, Ford and HEI applications.
Coil On Plug Ignition: The Wired Differences
For late-model vehicles, the norm is one ignition coil per cylinder, commonly known as coil on plug. The task of providing voltage potential to each spark plug is performed so reliably that it’s easy to take for granted.
VIDEO: Stop-Start System Service Opportunities
Andrew Markel discusses service opportunities for vehicle stop-start systems and how several modules are involved in the activation of the feature. Sponsored by Bosch Automotive Service Solutions.
VIDEO: Choosing The Right Spark Plug Replacement
Andrew Markel shows the importance of choosing a spark plug replacement with the OE-recommended or better material. Sponsored by Robert Bosch.
Ultimate Underhood Retro: Ignition Points
The ignition contact points that conduct the battery voltage are typically made of tungsten, and can be slowly eroded by the spark. The contact pad that rides on the shaft of the distributor can wear and change the dwell. The spring can lose tension over time and even break. Most point systems could not go past 4,000 RPM without the timing becoming unstable due to the arm bouncing on the distributor shaft.
Spark Plug Replacement Basics: Removal, Installation And Choosing The Right Plug
Spark plug replacement is considered one of the least complicated tasks at a shop, but ignorance of what you are dealing with can get you into trouble.
Ford F-150 ECOBOOST 3.5L Pattern Failures
With almost 400,000 3.5L EcoBoost engines on the road today, these engines have proven to be a solid power unit. Many of these engines are out of warranty and heading to your shop. Here are the top failures and what to look for.
Ignition System: MIL On, Ignition Coil DTCs Set
Some 2006 Zephyr; 2006-2008 Fusion and Milan; 2007-2008 MKZ, Edge and MKX; and 2008 Taurus, Taurus X and Sable vehicles built on or before March 1, 2008 and equipped with a 3.0L or 3.5L engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on.
Secondary Ignition: The Art of Spark
What is a coil? From the beginning of the internal combustion engine, several different ignition systems have been used to create a high-energy spark. The most popular system, and the one that’s in use today, is a step-up coil. A coil is nothing more than a transformer, and like any transformer, it has two separate
