ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - V8
18-2-38 DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Spark plugs
The spark plugs are platinum tipped on both centre and earth electrodes. The platinum tips give a long maintenance
free life.
Cleaning or resetting the spark plug gap is not recommended as this could result in damaging the platinum tips and
thereby reducing reliability.
The misfire detection system will malfunction and store erroneous codes if the incorrect spark plugs are used.
Input/Output
The ignition coils provide a voltage to the spark plugs via the ht leads. The cylinder head via the individual thread of
each spark plug provides the earth path.
The spark plugs can fail in the following ways:
lFaulty component.
lConnector or wiring fault.
lBreakdown of high tension lead causing tracking to chassis earth.
lIncorrect spark plugs fitted.
In the event of a spark plug failure, misfire on specific cylinder may be observed:
High tension (ht) leads
The ht leads are located on top of the engine, below the plenum chamber. Their function is to transfer the ht voltage
generated by the ignition coils to the spark plugs in the engine.
Input/Output
The input to the ht lead is ht voltage from the ignition coil pack. The ht lead then supplies this voltage to the spark
plug. Output ht voltage is used by the spark plugs to ignite the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
The ht leads can fail in the following ways:
lConnector/ Wiring fault.
lFaulty component causing spark tracking to chassis earth.
lDamage to ht leads during component removal.
In the event of a ht lead failure the following symptom may be observed:
lMisfire on specific cylinder.
All ignition system related faults are diagnosed by the misfire detection system and its fault codes.
