Sunday, March 23, 2014
What Is a Distributor Pickup Coil
The ignition system in your car takes the spark generated by the distributor pickup coil and sends it through the plug wires to the spark plugs at just the right time. With this in mind, the pickup coil is a vital part of the ignition system.
Definition
The distributor shaft is typically turned by a gear on the bottom of the shaft. This gear is turned either by a timing belt, a timing chain or directly by the camshaft. The pickup coil is around this shaft, generally under the distributor rotor. The pickup coil is an electromagnetic sensor.
Function
On the distributor shaft there is a raised metal "tongue." This tongue passes by the pickup coil each time the distributor rotates. This causes the pickup coil to send a signal to the ignition control module, letting it know where the distributor is in its rotation. This corresponds with where the motor is in the compression cycle. The control module then knows when to send spark to the coil.
Options
Modern vehicles usually have a camshaft position sensor or a crankshaft position sensor and sometimes both. These work on the same principle as the pickup coil; but because they are located directly beside the crankshaft and the camshaft, they are more accurate. In newer vehicles these sensors also help time fuel delivery through the injection system, making them more efficient.
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