10/08/2026
SPARK PLUG FIRING CONTROL (BASIC WIRING)🚘🚗
This diagram shows a typical electronic ignition system used on modern 4‑cylinder engines, with individual ignition coils (one per cylinder, also called “coil‑on‑plug”) controlled by an Engine Control Unit (ECU).
🧩 Key Components & Connections
- Battery: Source of electrical power; positive (+) feeds the main fuse, negative (-) connects to chassis ground.
- Main Fuse + Ignition Relay + Ignition Fuse: Protect the circuit and switch power on/off when the ignition is activated; terminal 30 = constant battery power, 87 = power output to coils, 85/86 = coil controlled by ECU.
- ECU (Engine Control Unit): Receives sensor data, sends IGT (Ignition Timing/Trigger) signals to each coil in the correct firing order; has power (+B), ground, and 4 output channels (IGT1–IGT4) for each cylinder.
- Ignition Coils: Each has 3 terminals:
- +B : Battery power input
- IGT : Signal input from ECU
- GND : Ground return
- Spark Plugs: Receive high‑voltage pulse from the coil to create a spark.
⚙️ How It Works (Step‑by‑Step)
1. Battery power flows through the ignition relay and fuses to the +B terminal of every ignition coil.
2. The ECU calculates the exact ignition timing and sends a low‑current IGT signal to the primary winding of the correct cylinder’s coil.
3. When the IGT signal turns ON, current flows through the coil’s primary winding and builds up a magnetic field.
4. When the ECU switches the IGT signal OFF, the magnetic field collapses instantly.
5. This collapse induces a very high voltage in the coil’s secondary winding.
6. The high voltage jumps across the spark plug gap, creating a spark that ignites the air‑fuel mixture in the cylinder.
📌 Terminal Functions
Terminal Purpose
+B Battery power supply to the coil
IGT ECU ignition trigger/control signal
GND Ground / return path
To Spark Plug High‑voltage output for spark
🎨 Wiring Color Code
- Red: Battery power (high current)
- Green: ECU control signal (low current)
- Black: Ground / return path
- Blue: High‑voltage output to spark plug
This design is reliable: it eliminates distributors, allows precise timing control for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions, and makes troubleshooting easier since each cylinder’s coil can be tested individually.