Even modern cars with injection engines and an abundance of onboard electronics are not insured against periodic problems. Quite often there are interruptions to the engine at idle, or there are difficulties with starting the engine, regardless of the ambient temperature. If when you try to start up, you hear the noise of the fuel pump, first of all, you should check the operation of the entire ignition system, not relying on the onboard computer and sensors.
First of all, as practice shows, a spark plug spark check will be required, since its “disappearance” is the most common cause of poor start and unstable engine operation. It should be understood that in self-checking, it is important to take special care because, besides the possibility of obtaining an extremely unpleasant electric shock, you can disable the ignition module or the controller. Therefore, it is desirable to carry out the test using a special discharger, which can be made independently.
How to check spark on ignition coil?
The ignition coil does not apply to those units that constantly break down and cause other troubles, but in some cases, problems are still noted. The most common cause of problems is damage to the winding. The subsequent breakdown of the insulation layer leads to a short circuit. The coil may also be damaged as a result of overloads caused by faulty spark plugs or defects in the high-voltage wires themselves.
Before checking the spark on the ignition coil, it is advisable to drive the car into a dry garage. All work can be done independently, without the use of special devices.
The algorithm for such verification is standard.
- After cleaning the cover of the distributor from dirt, it is removed.
- By turning the crankshaft on the engine, it is necessary to achieve the closure of the distributor contacts.
- After turning on the ignition, the high-voltage wire coming from the distributor is brought to the vehicle mass. Particular attention should be paid to the distance. it should be 5 mm.
- For the accuracy of the test coil, from time to time you will need to manually open the contacts of the distributor.
How to check if there is a spark on the candles?
If the ignition distributor is serviceable, it produces a good spark, the reason may be the absence of the same spark directly in the candles. Especially if there are no problems with the flow of the fuel mixture and the air filter is not clogged. Checking the ignition spark on the candle itself will not be a difficult and lengthy procedure, and is done on its own in a short time. When checking the candles on your own, you will need to pre-inspect the wires leading to them from the distributor for detection of insulation failure.
Then a special key will need to unscrew all the candles and assess the degree of soot. the surplus should be cleaned before checking the spark. Be sure to check the current distance between the electrodes of the candle. It should not exceed 0.7-0.9 mm. If the current value is incorrect, you can go two ways. The first was widely used since Soviet times when the banal bending of the electrode regulated the gap. Of course, the method has become obsolete, but as a temporary one, it has the right to exist. It is best to replace the candles on new and modern, for example, iridium, which, along with excellent performance characteristics allow to reduce fuel consumption.
After removing the candle, it is necessary to tie them in one row using steel wire. One end of the wire must be left long to ground it to the body weight of the car being tested. After starting the engine, the starter must carefully monitor the “behavior” of the spark plugs. A weak, dim spark, or the lack thereof, is almost guaranteed to indicate a failure of the electronic switch.
If the spark is different, dim, then it can speak about several problems immediately:
- damage to the wire going to the candle;
- an existing defect or runner development directly of the distributor;
- poor contact of the wire os candle;
- defective candle itself.
Thus, it would seem, a serious question for novice motorists “how to check the spark on the injection engine,” in practice is resolved quite easily.
How to check the spark power on the ignition module
Most car owners understand that when the “engine” starts to wind down or start up badly, the problem often lies in the absence of a spark. Therefore, checking the spark on the injector is such a manipulation, which should not cause any difficulty for the driver, who often has to face the need for repairs in the field. Naturally, you should always have a set of several new or just serviceable candles with you.
Since the absence of a spark is the most common cause of build-up or an ambitious start-up of the engine, as well as its unstable idling, the spark test on candles is carried out by motorists first. In order not to turn out all the candles at once, you can check them one by one. removing them one by one from the cylinder head, putting on the caps with a wire from the coil and grounding each candle to ground. The rotation of the starter should cause the formation of a good and bright spark. In its absence, you can replace the wire (it is advisable to carry a spare with you) or use one that is a worker.
Self-diagnosis of the ignition module.
To talk about any malfunctions in the functioning of the module, the manifestations of the following problems are necessary:
- intermittent operation of the engine at idle;
- perceptible power reduction, especially noticeable with sharp accelerations;
- incorrect operation of adjacent cylinders.
Besides, when driving, you should periodically pay attention to the Check Engine indicator located on the instrument panel. Any of the above “symptoms” should not only alert the driver but also “prepare” him for the possible expenses associated with the acquisition of a new module. Independent diagnostics of the module begins only after checking the remaining elements of the ignition system, for example, the presence of a spark on the spark plug.
The easiest and most informative way to check is using a tester. One of the tester probes must be connected to the contact marked “A” on the connector of the module itself, and the second to the ground. If, after starting the engine, the tester shows a voltage of 12 V, the module is operational and does not require replacement. If there is no voltage, the cause should be sought in another, for example, check the fuse.