2004 ISUZU TF SERIES fuel additives

6E-58 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR
ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM IGNITION
COILS & CONTROL
A separate coil-at-plug module is located at each spark
plug.
The coil-at-plug module is attached to the engine with
two screws. It is installed directly to the spark plug by an
electrical contact inside a rubber boot.
A three way connector provides 12 volts primary supply
from the ignition coil fuse, a ground switching trigge
r
line from the ECM, and ground.
The ignition control spark timing is the ECM's method o
f
controlling the spark advance and the ignition dwell.
The ignition control spark advance and the ignition dwell
are calculated by the ECM using the following inputs.

Engine speed

Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor

Camshaft position (CMP) sensor

Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor

Throttle position sensor

Park or neutral position switch

Vehicle speed sensor

ECM and ignition system supply voltage

Based on these sensor signal and engine load
information, the ECM sends 5V to each ignition coil
requiring ignition. This signal sets in the powe
r
transistor of the ignition coil to establish a grounding
circuit for the primary coil, applying battery voltage to
the primary coil.
At the ignition timing, the ECM stops sending the 5V
signal voltage. Under this condition the power transistor
of the ignition coil is set off to cut the battery voltage to
the primary coil, thereby causing a magnetic field
generated in the primary coil to collapse.
On this moment a line of magnetic force flows to the
secondary coil, and when this magnetic line crosses the
coil, high voltage induced by the secondary ignition
circuit to flow through the spark plug to the ground.

Ignition Control ECM Output
The ECM provides a zero volt (actually about 100 mV to
200 mV) or a 5-volt output signal to the ignition control
(IC) module. Each spark plug has its own primary and
secondary coil module ("coil-at-plug") located at the
spark plug itself. When the ignition coil receives the
5-volt signal from the ECM, it provides a ground path fo
r
the B+ supply to the primary side of the coil-at -plug
module. This energizes the primary coil and creates a
magnetic field in the coil-at-plug module. When the
ECM shuts off the 5-volt signal to the ignition control
module, the ground path for the primary coil is broken.
The magnetic field collapses and induces a high voltage
secondary impulse which fires the spark plug and
ignites the air/fuel mixture.
The circuit between the ECM and the ignition coil is
monitored for open circuits, shorts to voltage, and
shorts to ground. If the ECM detects one of these
events, it will set one of the following DTCs:

P0351: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #1

P0352: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #2

P0353: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #3

P0354: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #4

P0355: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #5

P0356: Ignition coil Fault on Cylinder #6

Spark Plug
Although worn or dirty spark plugs may give satisfactory
operation at idling speed, they frequency fail at highe
r
engine speeds. Faulty spark plugs may cause poor fuel
economy, power loss, loss of speed, hard starting and
generally poor engine performance. Follow the
scheduled maintenance service recommendations to
ensure satisfactory spark plug performance. Refer to
Maintenance and Lubrication.
Normal spark plug operation will result in brown to
grayish-tan deposits appearing on the insulator portion
of the spark plug. A small amount of red-brown, yellow,
and white powdery material may also be present on the
insulator tip around the center electrode. These
deposits are normal combustion by-products of fuels
and lubricating oils with additives. Some electrode wea
r
will also occur. Engines which are not running properly
are often referred to as “misfiring." This means the
ignition spark is not igniting the air/fuel mixture at the
proper time.
Spark plugs may also misfire due to fouling, excessive
gap, or a cracked or broken insulator. If misfiring
occurs before the recommended replacement interval,
locate and correct the cause.

6E-70 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
Fuel Quality
Fuel quality is not a new issue for the automotive
industry, but its potential for turning on the MIL (“Check
Engine" lamp) with OBD systems is new.
Fuel additives such as “dry gas" and “octane
enhancers" may affect the performance of the fuel. The
Reed Vapor Pressure of the fuel can also create
problems in the fuel system, especially during the spring
and fall months when severe ambient temperature
swings occur. A high Reed Vapor Pressure could sho
w
up as a Fuel Trim DTC due to excessive canister
loading. High vapor pressures generated in the fuel
tank can also affect the Evaporative Emission
diagnostic as well.
Using fuel with the wrong octane rating for your vehicle
may cause driveability problems. Many of the majo
r
fuel companies advertise that using “premium" gasoline
will improve the performance of your vehicle. Mos
t
premium fuels use alcohol to increase the octane rating
of the fuel. Although alcohol-enhanced fuels may raise
the octane rating, the fuel's ability to turn into vapor in
cold temperatures deteriorates. This may affect the
starting ability and cold driveability of the engine.
Low fuel levels can lead to fuel starvation, lean engine
operation, and eventually engine misfire.
Non-OEM Parts
All of the OBD diagnostics have been calibrated to run
with OEM parts.
Aftermarket electronics, such as cellular phones,
stereos, and anti-theft devices, may radiate EMI into the
control system if they are improperly installed. This may
cause a false sensor reading and turn on the MIL
(“Check Engine" lamp).
Environment
Temporary environmental conditions, such as localized
flooding, will have an effect on the vehicle ignition
system. If the ignition system is rain-soaked, it can
temporarily cause engine misfire and turn on the MIL
(“Check Engine" lamp).
Vehicle Marshaling
The transportation of new vehicles from the assembly
plant to the dealership can involve as many as 60 key
cycles within 5Km miles of driving. This type o
f
operation contributes to the fuel fouling of the spark
plugs and will turn on the MIL (“Check Engine" lamp).

Poor Vehicle Maintenance
The sensitivity of OBD diagnostics will cause the MIL
(“Check Engine" lamp) to turn on if the vehicle is no
t
maintained properly. Restricted air filters, fuel filters,
and crankcase deposits due to lack of oil changes o
r
improper oil viscosity can trigger actual vehicle faults
that were not previously monitored prior to OBD. Poo
r
vehicle maintenance can not be classified as a
“non-vehicle fault", but with the sensitivity of OBD
diagnostics, vehicle maintenance schedules must be
more closely followed.
Severe Vibration
The Misfire diagnostic measures small changes in the
rotational speed of the crankshaft. Severe driveline
vibrations in the vehicle, such as caused by an
excessive amount of mud on the wheels, can have the
same effect on crankshaft speed as misfire.
Related System Faults
Many of the OBD system diagnostics will not run if the
ECM detects a fault on a related system or component.
One example would be that if the ECM detected a
Misfire fault, the diagnostics on the catalytic converte
r
would be suspended until Misfire fault was repaired. If
the Misfire fault was severe enough, the catalytic
converter could be damaged due to overheating and
would never set a Catalyst DTC until the Misfire faul
t
was repaired and the Catalyst diagnostic was allowed to
run to completion. If this happens, the customer may
have to make two trips to the dealership in order to
repair the vehicle.
Maintenance Schedule
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule.
Visual/Physical Engine Compartment
Inspection
Perform a careful visual and physical engine
compartment inspection when performing any
diagnostic procedure or diagnosing the cause of an
emission test failure. This can often lead to repairing a
problem without further steps. Use the following
guidelines when performing a visual/physical inspection:

Inspect all vacuum hoses for punches, cuts,
disconnects, and correct routing.

Inspect hoses that are difficult to see behind othe
r
components.

Inspect all wires in the engine compartment fo
r
proper connections, burned or chafed spots, pinched
wires, contact with sharp edges or contact with ho
t
exhaust manifolds or pipes.

6E–54 ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR ELECTRIC
IGNITION SYSTEM
The engine use two ignition coils, one per two cylinders.
A two wire connector provides a battery voltage primary
supply through the ignition fuse.
The ignition control spark timing is the ECM’s method of
controlling the spark advance and the ignition dwell.
The ignition control spark advance and the ignition dwell
are calculated by the ECM using the following inputs.
Engine speed
Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor
Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
Throttle position sensor
Vehicle speed sensor
ECM and ignition system supply voltage
Ignition coil works to generate only the secondary
voltage be receiving the primary voltage from ECM.
The primary voltage is generated at the coil driver
located in the ECM. The coil driver generate the primary
voltage based on the crankshaft position signal. In
accordance with the crankshaft position signal, ignition
coil driver determines the adequate ignition timing and
also cylinder number to ignite.
Ignition timing is determined the coolant temperature,
intake air temperature, engine speed, engine load,
knock sensor signal, etc.
Spark Plug
Although worn or dirty spark plugs may give satisfactory
operation at idling speed, they frequently fail at higher
engine speeds. Faulty spark plugs may cause poor fuel
economy, power loss, loss of speed, hard starting and
generally poor engine performance. Follow the
scheduled maintenance service recommendations to
ensure satisfactory spark plug performance. Refer to
Maintenance and Lubrication.
Normal spark plug operation will result in brown to
grayish-tan deposits appearing on the insulator portion
of the spark plug. A small amount of red-brown, yellow,
and white powdery material may also be present on the
insulator tip around the center electrode. These
deposits are normal combustion by-products of fuels
and lubricating oils with additives. Some electrode wear
will also occur. Engines which are not running properly
are often referred to as “misfiring.” This means the
ignition spark is not igniting the air/fuel mix ture at the
proper time. While other ignition and fuel system causes
must also be considered, possible causes include
ignition system conditions which allow the spark voltage
to reach ground in some other manner than by jumping
across the air gap at the tip of the spark plug, leaving
the air/fuel mix ture unburned. Misfiring may also occur
when the tip of the spark plug becomes overheated and
ignites the mixture before the spark jumps. This is
referred to as “pre-ignition.”
Spark plugs may also misfire due to fouling, ex cessive
gap, or a cracked or broken insulator. If misfiring occursbefore the recommended replacement interval, locate
and correct the cause.
Carbon fouling of the spark plug is indicated by dry,
black carbon (soot) deposits on the portion of the spark
plug in the cylinder. Ex cessive idling and slow speeds
under light engine loads can keep the spark plug
temperatures so low that these deposits are not burned
off. Very rich fuel mix tures or poor ignition system output
may also be the cause. Refer to DTC P1167.
Oil fouling of the spark plug is indicated by wet oily
deposits on the portion of the spark plug in the cylinder,
usually with little electrode wear. This may be caused by
oil during break-in of new or newly overhauled engines.
Deposit fouling of the spark plug occurs when the
normal red-brown, yellow or white deposits of
combustion by-products become sufficient to cause
misfiring. In some cases, these deposits may melt and
form a shiny glaze on the insulator around the center
electrode. If the fouling is found in only one or two
cylinders, valve stem clearances or intake valve seals
may be allowing ex cess lubricating oil to enter the
cylinder, particularly if the deposits are heavier on the
side of the spark plug facing the intake valve.
Ex cessive gap means that the air space between the
center and the side electrodes at the bottom of the
spark plug is too wide for consistent firing. This may be
due to improper gap adjustment or to ex cessive wear of
the electrode during use. A check of the gap size and
comparison to the gap specified for the vehicle in
Maintenance and Lubrication will tell if the gap is too
wide. A spark plug gap that is too small may cause an
unstable idle condition. Ex cessive gap wear can be an
indication of continuous operation at high speeds or
with engine loads, causing the spark to run too hot.
Another possible cause is an ex cessively lean fuel
mixture.