The electronic ignition (EI) system consists of the following
components and wiring circuits:
| • | The ignition control (IC) module |
| • | The powertrain control module (PCM) |
| • | The crankshaft position (CKP) sensor |
| • | The camshaft position (CMP) sensor |
The EI wiring circuits listed here use the following service common
names--Between the IC module and the PCM:
| • | Medium resolution engine speed signal |
| • | Low resolution engine speed signal |
| • | Camshaft position signal |
Between the CKP sensor and the IC module:
Between the CMP and the IC module:
The CMP voltage and low reference circuits are shared with the CKP sensor.
The IC module is also supplied with the following:
Purpose
The EI system is responsible for producing and controlling a high energy
secondary spark. This spark is used to ignite the compressed air/fuel mixture
at precisely the correct time to provide optimal performance, fuel economy,
and control of exhaust emissions.
Operation
In this EI system there is one coil for each pair of cylinders. Each
pair is at top dead center (TDC) at the same time, and are known as companion
cylinders. The cylinder that is at TDC of its compression stroke is called
the event cylinder. The cylinder that is at TDC of its exhaust stroke is
called the waste cylinder. When the coil is triggered both plugs fire at
the same time, completing a series circuit. Because the lower pressure
inside the waste cylinder offers very little resistance the event cylinder
uses most of the available voltage producing a very high energy spark.
This is known as waste spark ignition.
EI Component Description
The following is a list of ignition system components and their functions.
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor System
The 18x crankshaft position
(CKP) sensor contains two hall effect switches in one housing. A hall effect
switch is a solid state switching device, which produces an ON-OFF pulse
when a rotating element passes the sensor pick-up and interrupts the sensors
magnetic field.
The rotating element is called an interrupter ring or blade. In this
case there are two interrupter rings (2) built into the crankshaft balancer.
The outer ring and outer switch provides the PCM with the 18x signals,
or 18 pulses per crankshaft revolution. The inner ring and inner switch
provide the PCM with a sync pulse three times per crankshaft revolution.
The IC module uses the 18x and sync pulses to determine the engine position,
by counting how many 18x ON-OFF pulses occur during a given sync pulse.
Each of the 3 sync pulses represent a pair of cylinders both at top dead
center at the same time, which are called companion cylinders. With this
dual interrupter ring arrangement the IC module can identify the correct
pair of cylinders to fire within as little as 120 degrees of crankshaft
rotation.
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor
The camshaft position
(CMP) sensor is a hall effect sensor which is triggered by a magnet pressed
into the camshaft sprocket. The CMP sensor provides a signal pulse once
every camshaft revolution, known as the CMP sensor signal. The IC module
uses this signal to identify the position of the #1 cylinder at top dead
center during its power stroke.
Ignition Coils and Ignition Control (IC) Module
Three dual tower ignition
coils (2) are mounted to the IC module (3), and are serviced individually.
The IC module performs the following functions:
| • | The IC module supplies a power and low reference circuit to the
CMP and CKP sensors. |
| • | The IC module receives and processes the signals generated by
the CMP and CKP sensors. |
| • | The IC module determines the correct coil triggering sequence,
based on how many 18x ON-OFF pulses occur during a sync pulse. This coil sequencing
occurs at start-up, and is remembered by the IC module. After the engine
is running, the module will continue to trigger the coils without the CKP
input. |
| • | The IC module determines the correct direction of the crankshaft
rotation, and cuts spark and fuel delivery to prevent damage from backfiring
if reverse rotation is detected. |
| • | The IC module sends 18x and 3x reference signals to the PCM. |
The 3x reference signal is also known as the low resolution engine speed
signal. This signal is generated by the IC module using an internal divide-by-six
circuit. This circuit divides the 18x signal pulses by six. This divider
circuit will not begin operation without a sync pulse present at start-up,
and without 18x and 3x reference signals no fuel injection will occur.
Powertrain Control (PCM) Module
The PCM is responsible
for maintaining proper spark and fuel injection timing for all driving conditions.
Ignition control (IC) spark timing is the method the PCM uses to control
spark advance and ignition dwell. To provide optimum driveability
and emissions, the PCM monitors input signals from the following components
in calculating ignition control (IC) spark timing:
| • | The ignition control (IC) module |
| • | The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor |
| • | The intake air temperature (IAT) sensor |
| • | The mass air flow (MAF) sensor |
| • | The Internal Mode or PNP inputs from Internal Mode switch or Park/Neutral
position switch |
| • | The throttle position (TP) sensor |
| • | The vehicle speed (VSS), or transmission output speed sensor (TOSS) |
The following describes the PCM to IC module circuits:
| • | Low resolution engine speed (3x reference)--PCM input--From
the ignition control module, the PCM uses this signal to calculate engine
RPM and crankshaft position above 1,200 RPM. The PCM also uses
the pulses on this circuit to initiate injector operation. |
| • | Medium resolution engine speed signal (18X reference)--PCM
input--The 18X reference signal is used to accurately control spark
timing at low RPM and allow IC operation during cranking. Below 1,200 RPM,
the PCM is monitoring the 18X reference signal and using the 18X reference
signal as the reference for ignition timing advance. When engine speed
exceeds 1,200 RPM, the PCM begins using the 3X reference signal
to control spark timing. |
| • | Camshaft position PCM input--The PCM uses this signal to
determine the position of the cylinder #1 piston during its power stroke.
This signal is used by the PCM to calculate true sequential fuel injection
(SFI) mode of operation. The PCM compares the number of CAM pulses
to the number of 18X and 3X reference pulses. If the number of 18X
and 3X reference pulses occurring between CAM pulses is incorrect,
or if no CAM pulses are received while the engine is running, the
PCM will set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC). If the CAM signal is lost
while the engine is running the fuel injection system will shift to
a calculated sequential fuel injection mode based on the last CAM pulse,
and the engine will continue to run. The engine can be re-started
and will run in the calculated Sequential Mode as long as the condition
is present with a 1 in 6 chance of being correct. |
| • | Low reference--PCM input--This is a ground circuit for
the digital RPM counter inside the PCM, but the wire is connected to engine
ground only through the IC module. This circuit assures there is no ground
drop between the PCM and IC module. |
| • | IC timing signal--PCM output--The IC module controls
spark timing while the engine is cranking, this is called bypass mode. Once
the PCM receives low resolution engine speed signals from the IC module,
the PCM applies 5 volts to the IC timing signal circuit allowing
the IC module to switch spark control to PCM control. |
| • | IC timing control--PCM output--The IC output circuitry
of the PCM sends out timing signals to the IC module on this circuit. When
in the Bypass Mode, the IC module grounds these signals. When in the IC
Mode, the signals are sent to the IC module to control coil dwell and
spark timing. Proper sequencing of the ignition coils is always controlled
by the IC module. |
Ignition System Modes of Operation
Anytime the PCM does not apply 5 volts to the IC timing signal
circuit, the IC module controls ignition by triggering each coil in
the proper sequence at a pre-determined dwell. This is called Bypass Mode
ignition used during cranking and running below a certain RPM, or during
a default mode due to a system failure.
When the PCM begins receiving 18x reference and 3X reference pulses,
the PCM applies 5 volts to the IC timing signal circuit. This
signals the IC module to allow the PCM to control the dwell and spark
timing. This is IC Mode ignition. During IC Mode, the PCM compensates
for all driving conditions. If the IC Mode changes due to a system fault,
it will stay in default until the ignition is cycled OFF to ON, or the
fault is no longer present.
Ignition System Service
Special care must be taken when diagnosing and handling EI systems.
The secondary voltage output can exceed 40,000 volts. Refer to the applicable
diagnosis or repair section for more information.
