The car’s ignition system is very essential to the proper operation of
your car’s engine, actually an important part of the overall engine
system. Keeping it well maintained can help you keep your vehicle on
the road longer. But what is the car’s ignition system, anyway? What
are its components and how does it works? Here it goes. The car’s
ignition system provides for the timely burning of the fuel mixture
within the engine. However, not all engine types need an ignition
system. A diesel engine for instance, relies on compression-ignition,
that is, the rise in temperature that accompanies the rise in pressure
within the cylinder is enough to ignite the fuel spontaneously. But all
conventional petrol engines on the other hand, require an ignition
system.
For the ignition system to be able to function at its best, it needs
components which have its own role to portray. It includes the spark
plugs, the ignition wires and coil, and the distributor. The ignition
system produces an electrical charge and transmits it to the spark
plugs through the ignition wires. The charge first flows to a
distributor. The distributor rotates via a gear on the camshaft and
triggers the ignition. The coil then fires, sending its power back to
the distributor through the coil wire. The distributor has one ignition
wire that goes in the center and four, six, or eight wires (depending
on the number of cylinders) coming out of it. These wires send a charge
to the spark plugs individually. The process is exactly timed so the
engine runs smoothly.
On older distributor-type ignition systems, there is another mechanism
on the bottom half of the distributor controlling the timing of the
high-voltage electric pulses. This mechanism includes the breaker point
or contact point that opens and closes to barge in the battery current
to the coil. But since spark timing is very critical to the engine's
performance, modern distributor systems have substituted the said
mechanism with a transistor controlled by the engine control unit
computer or ECU. On the other hand, many new automobiles feature a
distributorless ignition system. The distributorless ignition system,
of course, does not make use of the distributor, rotor or cap; instead
the engine management computer tells the coil when to fire.
So if lately, you have noticed that your Saturn engine has been running
poorly, perhaps some of your ignition system components are damaged. If
in case you found out that it is your Saturn distributor that is
causing the problem, then replacing it necessary. Here at Parts
Train, we carry a wide variety of Saturn distributors for whatever
Saturn model you own. Visit us now and discover what we have in store
for you!
Featured Products
Saturn Sky - Distributor Shim
"MR GASKET DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SHIM SET -- Designed To Eliminate Excessive Distributor End Play Causing Spark Scatter, Includes 2-.010'', 1-.020'', And 1-.050'' Shims For .5'' Diameter, With Manufacturer's Limited 90-Day Warranty"
Brand:Mr Gasket
2007 - 4Cyl 2.0L Base
2008 - 4Cyl 2.0L Red Line
Saturn Aura - Distributor Shim
"MR GASKET DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SHIM SET -- Designed To Eliminate Excessive Distributor End Play Causing Spark Scatter, Includes 2-.010'', 1-.020'', And 1-.050'' Shims For .5'' Diameter, With Manufacturer's Limited 90-Day Warranty"
"MR GASKET DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SHIM SET -- Designed To Eliminate Excessive Distributor End Play Causing Spark Scatter, Includes 2-.010'', 1-.020'', And 1-.050'' Shims For .5'' Diameter, With Manufacturer's Limited 90-Day Warranty"
Brand:Mr Gasket
2008 - 4Cyl 1.8L XE
2008 - 4Cyl 1.8L XR
Saturn Vue - Distributor Shim
"MR GASKET DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SHIM SET -- Designed To Eliminate Excessive Distributor End Play Causing Spark Scatter, Includes 2-.010'', 1-.020'', And 1-.050'' Shims For .5'' Diameter, With Manufacturer's Limited 90-Day Warranty"
"MR GASKET DISTRIBUTOR GEAR SHIM SET -- Designed To Eliminate Excessive Distributor End Play Causing Spark Scatter, Includes 2-.010'', 1-.020'', And 1-.050'' Shims For .5'' Diameter, With Manufacturer's Limited 90-Day Warranty"