How to ring the ignition coil with a multimeter? Basic ways

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Car enthusiasts and users of motorized vehicles are well aware that problems with starting an engine result from the disappearance of a spark. Several elements are responsible for its formation at once, working in close conjunction with each other and forming a single system for starting the machine. One such component is the ignition coil.

The schematic of the part is very simple, but it is absolutely impossible to start the engine without it. Its functional purpose is to convert the voltage of the on-board circuit into high-voltage pulses sufficient to form a spark. The cause of the problem may be a factory defect or a general malfunction of the vehicle. Therefore, every driver should know how to ring the ignition coil on their own using improvised tools, which will allow you to quickly restoreoperability of equipment and save on third-party services.

Coil device

The ignition coil is an important element of the engine starting system, as it is responsible for generating high voltage in the network. It is used in the electronic, non-contact and contact starting circuit of cars. According to the device and the principle of operation, it resembles a transformer placed in an insulated housing. The photo shows the general scheme of the part.

Before you ring the ignition coil, you need to clarify its model and read the instructions, since each product has its own design features. However, despite all the variety of brands, its principle of operation has not changed since the invention of the induction coil. The main elements of the device are two windings and a steel core.

The primary winding is made of thick copper wire with special enameled insulation. The standard number of turns is from 100 to 150 pieces. The conclusions are connected to the terminals "K" and "B", which are supplied with a voltage of 12 volts. The secondary winding is made of the same wire, but of a smaller cross section. As shown in the figure, one end is connected to the "B" terminal, the other - to the high-voltage one. The output voltage varies from 25,000 to 40,000 volts. It is enough to overcome the resistance and generate a spark at the spark plug contacts. Between themselves, the windings are insulated with thick paper. Some coil models are filled with transformer oil,which protects them from overheating.

Operation principle

From the battery, a low voltage is applied to the terminals of the primary winding. At a certain interval, the cutter breaks the circuit, which leads to a disturbance of the magnetic field and the formation of an electromotive force in the secondary winding. According to the laws of electrodynamics, the value of the electromotive force directly depends on the number of turns. The more of them, the higher this value.

Therefore, a high voltage electromagnetic pulse is formed in the second winding, which is transmitted through the wires through the distributor to the spark plugs. But such a scheme is not applicable to modular coils. The resulting spark ignites a mixture of fuel and air vapors. However, on early models of technology, the circuit showed low efficiency, therefore, on modern systems, the coil is connected directly to the spark plugs.

Varieties of coils

Ignition coils are divided into three types:

1. General. It is used for electronic, non-contact and contact engine start systems with a distributive element. Current is supplied to the candles through the wires through the distributor.
2. Modular or customized. Applies to direct start electronic circuit only. It differs from a common coil in that the primary winding is located directly on the central rod, that is, inside the secondary, along the contour of which there is another metal core. Some models are equipped with additional electronic mixture ignition elements. Voltage applieddirectly to the spark plug by means of a tip, which includes a high-voltage rod, a spring and an insulating sheath. The voltage is cut off using a diode installed on the secondary winding.
3. Two-lead or dual. It is applied in all types of systems of electronic start. The coil has two high voltage outputs at once, installed simultaneously on two engine cylinders. Since both outputs work synchronously, the sparking on one of them occurs idly, that is, at the stage of releasing the burnt mixture.

Therefore, before ringing the ignition coil with a multimeter, you need to find out its device. For example, twin coils can be connected to spark plugs via a high voltage wire through a distributor or directly through a rod. Sometimes they are combined into one structural unit, which is called a four-pin coil.

General symptoms of malfunctions

The ignition coil is a high voltage generator and operates on the principle of a transformer. Therefore, it has similar signs of breakdowns. Coils are divided into:

• Dry.
• Oil-filled.
• Modular.

All of them are responsible for the power and the presence of a spark. However, regardless of their type, the causes of breakdowns are the same for everyone:

1. Transition of current to ground, no current in the wires. The output voltage is several thousand volts, and therefore there are breakdowns of electricity to ground. This happens if the isolation of the contactelements of poor quality or deteriorated during operation.
2. Overheating of the coil body. The coil wires heat up due to internal resistance. An excess current constantly flows through the primary winding, which additionally heats the coil. Over time, this leads to burnout of the insulation and, as a result, to a short circuit and failure of the part itself. It must also be borne in mind that the cause of the increase in resistance may be the wear of other engine components. The appearance of a burning smell clearly indicates burnt insulation.
3. The presence of chips, cracks and other mechanical damage on the case. Appear as a result of physical impact as a result of careless handling or foreign objects entering the engine compartment of the machine.

In the event of an insulation failure, the charge follows the path of least resistance. In this case, it is imperative to ring the ignition coil with a leak tester, since the current does not enter the contacts of the candles, but goes to ground. You can identify a malfunction by difficult starting, unstable engine operation, or by the presence of pops in the cylinders.

The situation is much more complicated with modular coils, since each of them is responsible for the operation of a single candle. And in the event of a breakdown of one, the spark will disappear in only one cylinder. It can be quite difficult to determine a malfunction in a timely manner without the necessary experience. In addition, the coil is located directly on the motor and is subject to high temperatures, which simply burn out the insulation. Therefore, the service life of such modules is not long.

Causes of breakdowns

Each user must know not only how to ring the ignition coil, but also about the possible causes of failure:

• Mechanical destruction. This happens most often as a result of a factory defect or part aging.
• Overheating. Relevant for injection car engines, as they are in contact with each other, which exhausts the coil life.
• Violation of contacts. Appears when dirt gets on them.
• Vibrations. Inherent in individual coils operating in direct contact with the motor.

It is necessary to regularly check the he alth of all systems to avoid big problems in the future.

Checking the coil on a VAZ car

You can ring the VAZ ignition coil using a multimeter. However, different types of cars are installed on different models, so the measurements will be different. Specifications are in the instructions, which must be read before checking. For carburetor engines, for example, type B117-A or its analogues were often used. Marking is indicated on the case.

All wires leading to the coil are disconnected before testing. The multimeter is switched to ohmmeter mode. The outputs of the primary coil are located on the terminals "3N" and "+ B", the secondary - on the high voltage terminal (central) and "+ B". The norm for the primary winding is 3.5 ohms, for the secondary - 9,200 ohms. If the device shows values below the standard, then a breakdown occurs.isolation, that is, the closure of the turns of the coil. High readings indicate a broken winding wire.

Information on how to ring a VAZ ignition coil with a multimeter can be found on any specialized portal. But there are times when the device is not at hand. Amateur ingenuity comes to the rescue, which will be discussed a little later.

Diagnostics of malfunction of coils on Lada Priore

Cars of this model are distinguished from their predecessors by the presence of on-board electronics that controls the operation of all systems. The car is a continuation of the tenth VAZ series with modifications and improvements. Technologists equipped it with an injection engine with eight or sixteen valves. The number of individual coils corresponds to the number of engine cylinders combined into one working unit. This complicates the troubleshooting process itself, since the Priors will have to ring the ignition coils individually.

It is first disconnected from the battery and unscrewed with a socket wrench. There should be no chips or cracks on the body and rubber seal. Next, the device is switched to the ohmmeter measurement mode and the primary winding is checked on contacts 1 and 3. The normal resistance for it is 0.5 Ohm. If it is larger or the tool does not show anything, then there is a break in the turns. The internal resistance of the instrument and the terminals must also be taken into account. Therefore, a result of 0.8 ohms is also considered normal.

For testingsecondary winding, the red probe is connected to the main rod, and the black probe to pin 2 in the main block. Polarity is essential as there is a diode that only conducts current in one direction. The device should show 345 kΩ in 2 MΩ mode. The measurement value depends on the degree of heating of the coil, so it should be checked cold.

Checking the coils of motorcycles "Ural"

Motorcycles of this group have established themselves as one of the most reliable and suitable for operation even in the most adverse conditions. Their design is simple and affordable for repair on their own. But, despite all its advantages, the technique has weaknesses - the launch system is the most vulnerable, since it accounts for the most loads. How to ring the ignition coil of Ural motorcycles, every owner of this equipment should know.

This is a standard quad outlet part without the usual solid body. Check its performance with an ohmmeter, alternately applying the probes to different conclusions. The device should show a resistance for the primary winding of 6 ohms, the secondary - 10 kOhm. The breakdown is checked by applying one probe to the mass, the other in turn to all contacts. For a good part, the device will show infinity.

Diagnosis of scooter coils

Outwardly they differ from our usual understanding, but the principle of operation is identical. Results and measurements may vary. To ring the ignition coil on a scooter, it is first removed,disconnect from the candle and wires. The two side contacts are the outputs of the primary winding, they measure the resistance, for which the readings will differ on different models. On average, this indicator ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 ohms. The central outlet and connection to the candles are the working part of the secondary winding.

The results of measurements depend on whether it is possible to ring the ignition coil with a multimeter with a tip extending to the candle or whether it can be done without it. It gives additional resistance, which must be added to the nominal data. The standard value cannot exceed 3 kΩ without wire.

Checking mower starting system

Specialists know that the starting system does not always cause breakage of mowers, but all owners need to know how to ring the ignition coil on the trimmer. Such a check should be carried out in case of any malfunction of the equipment. And it is easy to carry out such a procedure on your own without outside help.

Previously, it is removed and examined for external damage. Contacts and housing must not have cracks, chips or other damage. There are many ways to check the he alth of a magnetic device, but a common method is to use a conventional tester. The device is switched to ohmmeter mode and by applying the probes to the contacts, the resistance is measured at the terminals of both windings. For the primary - the value varies from 0.4 to 2 ohms, for the secondary - from 6 to 15 kOhm.

The most reliable information everthe oscilloscope will show. However, its cost is many times higher than that of an inductive or digital multimeter.

Diagnosis of a malfunction of the gasoline saw coil

The device and the principle of its one-to-one start-up system resembles the scheme of mowers and trimmers, so we will intentionally omit the question of how to ring the ignition coil on a chainsaw using an ohmmeter. Consider a method for checking the quality of the generated spark on a spark plug. This method does not give one hundred percent guarantees, but allows you to evaluate the performance of the launch system.

The candle is unscrewed from the cylinder and applied with its body to the mass. Without much effort, pull the starter and observe the spark between the contacts. It should be strong and have a bright blue color. Since the inverted plug is not under cylinder pressure, and the flywheel spins more vigorously due to the lack of compression, this method cannot be considered reliable, since it does not correspond to real operating conditions. It only allows you to assess the he alth of the start and, in the absence of problems, look for a breakdown in another engine node.

Methods of checking the ignition system

This section describes how to ring the ignition coil without using a multimeter. The device allows you to check for an open circuit by measuring resistance, but this is not the only technique. There are a number of other ways:

1. With an oscilloscope. It is used mainly in service centers for diagnosing the starting system. Connect the device to open the circuit between the coil and the candles. It is considered the most reliable method. It has the only drawback - the cost of the device.
2. By removing the spark plug from the cylinder and checking for a spark at its contacts. Serviceability is determined by its presence, strength and color. Any deviation from the norm indicates a breakdown.
3. Method of imitation of a candle with any metal object, such as a nail. The method is dangerous in that it can lead to a breakdown of the entire system, but it allows you to save real operating conditions. A nail is inserted into the cap and brought to the mass, a voltage of 12 V is applied to the primary winding. The presence of a spark indicates that the system is working.

Conclusion

The launch system needs to be checked regularly, not just when it breaks down. This will prevent problems in the future. If a defective or defective part is found, it must be replaced with a working and high-quality one. They are not subject to repair, and it is not advisable to do this for economic reasons.