How to check the ignition coil with your own hands

Unstable operation of a gasoline power plant, interruptions, heavy launch is usually associated with a disruption of one of two systems - nutrition and ignition. And if such malfunctions are available, it is in these systems that need and look for causes. Now we will not consider the system of nutrition, but we will stop at, more precisely on one of the elements of this system.

This element performs the transformation of low voltage electricity to the high-voltage, which is necessary to create a spark between the contacts of the incandescent candle.

On cars, three types of such coils are used - classical (used on a car with ignition systems in which there is a distributor) of the two-unit (used in the ignition system with direct voltage supply to the candle) and individual (in such a system for each candle there are one coil).

All three types of coils are structurally very similar, the difference between them lies in some nuances. The classic coil consists of two windings - primary and secondary. The second winding is placed inside the first. The difference between windings is reduced to the number of turns of the wire and the thickness of the wire. Inside of these windings, a ferromagnetic alloy core is placed. Each of these windings has two outputs. In the primary, these conclusions are input, they served voltage onboard network. The secondary one output is a high-voltage output, the second output is connected to the primary winding.

All this is placed in a sealed case, and all conclusions go on the cover of the housing.

The two-unit coil differs from the classic presence of two cores - the internal placed in the winding, and the external - is over the windings. Also instead of one high-voltage output of the secondary winding in such a coil two.

The individual coil is characterized by the fact that the non-secondary winding is placed on top of the primary, and its high-voltage conclusion is connected to the tip that dresses on.

All of them are intimidative, and repair is not subject to repair. Although often problems with the power installation are related to this item. Loss of windings or their closure can cause interruptions in the work, as well as the complete inoperability of the motor.

Ways to check the ignition coil

If the operation of the power unit causes complaints, the reason for this can be problems with the system and ignition. In this case, the inspection of the coil's performance is included in the list of work on identifying a malfunction.

First method: check on the spark

There are two ways to check with their own hands. The first can be called hiking and perform it even on the road, although he will not give warranty that the problem is hidden in the coil.

Video: Checking the ignition coil right by car

This method does not imply any special equipment. All that is required is the presence of a candle wrench, passage and good incandescent candle. This tool should always be available.

So, the engine "overcame", and there is a suspicion that because of the coil. To perform the check, you must first inspect all wiring connections, starting with this item and ending with candles. In this case, the ignition key must be translated into the "0" position to avoid electricity damage. It is not deadly, but it can deliver an unpleasant feeling.

After the first cylinder candle, you need to remove the tip, and connect to. Then the tip must be taken by passats and dismiss the candle. For this you need to press the skirt of the candle to any metal surface, not covered with paint or other materials. You can disable it on the engine.

At the same time, voltage will be supplied to the coil, it will work, issuing high-voltage pulses, which will be sparking between the contacts of the candle. If the spark is bright and has a purple color - the coil is fully working. Weak orange spark will indicate possible problems with it or wiring. The absence of it can signal the coil fault or the wiring chain break.

If there is no good candle with you, you can use the one that is installed on the engine. The candle is twisted from the head with a candle wrench, and then the check is performed by the above method. But, there is an option that the candle itself is faulty, so the check will need to be done on several, it is also desirable to change the tips and tips, that is, they checked two candles with the first cylinder with a candle of the other cylinder and recorded it again. This will give a great guarantee that the problem lies in the coil.

On the engine, which is equipped with individual coils, the check can be performed by changing their location. That is, the coil of the first cylinder is installed on the second, and from the second to the first. But only the coils need to change, the wiring that goes to them remains on its cylinder.

Second method: check by measuring resistance

The second method of checking is using an ohmmeter or multimeter with the possibility of adjusting the range of 2 MΩ. The fact is that one of the important characteristics that can be used as a verification is resistance. At the same time, this indicator of both coil windings is measured.

Such a check will give a more accurate answer whether this element is the cause of interruptions in the motor operation. But for this it needs to be removed from the car.

Resistance measurement at ignition coil

Before performing measurements, you should ask what resistance coils is nominal. In many coils installed on the car, the resistance of the primary winding is located in the range of 0.7-1.7 ohms, and the secondary - 7.5-10.5 com, but the values \u200b\u200bof other coils may differ. Before checking, you should check the resistance of the device itself by closing its probe among themselves.

The primary winding first is checked. For this, the probes are connected to its conclusions, usually they are located on the sides of the central output of the coil. After measuring from the resulting value, the resistance of the device itself is taken, and then the result is checked with a nominal value. Any output from the nominal resistance range will indicate the coil malfunction.

After the secondary winding is checked. To do this, one of the proves is connected to the central output, and the second to the side, without any difference. After that, it is necessary to reprove the results of measurements with nominal indicators.

Video: Measure the resistance of the ignition coil

Some nuances about such an inspection of the two-unit and individual coils. When measuring the resistance of the secondary winding of the two-unit coil of the difference, on which out of the conclusions was made - no. Structurally, it is made that one impulse is applied to both outputs.

But it should be borne in mind that a block consisting of two such coils can be used for 4-cylinder engines, so it is better to check on all central conclusions.

As for the inspection of the individual coil, then when checking the primary winding, the probe is connected to two side conclusions, in the place where the chip is connected to the wires.