The Trainer #99: A Beginner’s Guide To Understanding Ignition Waveforms

[@PaulysAuto]

Pete, I really appreciate your time and effort in helping technicians become better at understanding what we are doing and seeing in more detail. It's truly invaluable to absorb the knowledge from great minds like yourself; so I wanted to let you know just how much I appreciate it! This is an outstanding video!

[@yarholiyan5438]

Thank you very much, Sir! The best video I found on this subject.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

It's been a long time since I connected the six or 8 secondary leads or the ign coil secondary and #1 spark plug secondary leads to an engine and watched the "parade" or the "raster" on the screen. On the secondary side I remembered the Dwell, Firing Line, Secondary Ringing, Burn Time and......I can't remember what the drop off to near zero was called. I remember the Dwell was starting the next cycle. this was seen in an old SUN "Big Box" diagnostic machine. Now it's the Pico Scope and LOTS of ways to manipulate the Primary and/or Secondary signal using the scope controls and the proper leads. Very Good Video Pete! Brought back memories!

[@mikechiodetti6737]

I remember a Ford trainer showing us this rope illustration back in the late 90's. It made sense. Using secondary ignition testing, it was easy to see some problems, more difficult with others. C.O.P. systems eliminated the ability for secondary ign testing, unless you removed the coils and added short lengths of ign wiring and tested that way. GM did that from the factory with the Coil Over Plug ignition. Good information Pete.

[@jeffreystroman2811]

Been at the electronics game for a long time, purchased a handheld scope the other day and hooked it up to my 83 ford bucket truck and boy have I forgotten waveform analysis, thanks for your efforts to share yours

[@ColeTanner88]

I studied secondary ignition for a few years then was at a shop that didn't allow curiosity and there was no drive to be better there, so I become complacent and didn't use a scope much at all. Now I'm in a place that encourages that and there aren't as many cars moving in/out so I've began studying again. Thank you for the education. I'll come shake your hand at ASTA this year.

[@iam1smiley1]

Thanks for doing this video series from one of your lady viewer's who's been in various aspects of the automotive industry for 30 years and watching things change at light speed :) I just picked up an older Modis, now to learn to use it properly and understand what I'm seeing 🙃 I'm tired of watching my hubby who took his mechanics training back in the early 1980's, firing the parts cannon too often and not REALLY knowing why he's changing parts on modern cars.....now we have more things to talk about and learn together, and our customers will also benefit.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! We have lots of material in our library to help you make the most out of your new tool.

[@ThunderbirdRocket]

A great gem of a lesson ! Super helpful ! Thanks mate !!

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@canadiantrucker9574]

Pete, you the best teacher!

[@PistonShack]

Thanks a lot Pete for detailed clear explanation. I learned from your and ScannerDarrer so much!

[@James-fs4rn]

👍 Thanks Pete! Your videos are the best!

[@seshachary5580]

great education. Thank you Regards

[@ozzstars_cars]

Good info Pete, stay safe!

[@briankotze57]

Great video. It is appreciated

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Pete another excellent presentation and thanks for sharing your knowledge and videos. 😊🇺🇸 Artie

[@DylanRabier]

Can't get to primary anymore in today's 3 and 4 wire coils. Thanks for sharing this Pete. Great video 👍

[@mike-yp1uk]

Try a paddle pick up. You rest it on top of the coil.

[@zoticus1]

That's why I made a "jumper wire" from a spark plug wire, one end on the plug and another inserted into the coil. They also sell one ready made.

[@microfarmers]

Thank you so much!

[@chrispompano]

Sure wish you would do an older HEI scope pattern!😁

[@ovalwingnut]

Shock & AWE (spot on) use of terminology.... I believe you got it! :O)

[@8power0]

GREAT CLASS , NEW TO IGNITION TESTING THANKS SO MUCH , COULD YOU TELL ME DOES THE COIL OR THE PCM/ECM CONTROL IGNITION COIL RAMPS AND THANKS AGAIN !

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

The circuit LOAD - in this case, the coil - controls the overall current flow. The ECM can, if a current limiting device is used. It's a combination of the two.

[@8power0]

@@MotorAgeMagazine THANKS FOR THE REPLY I TRULY APPRECIATE IT !

[@Ted_E_Bear]

The great Pete, thanks !!

[@thromboid]

More great content! About the only improvement I could suggest would be to show a circuit schematic along with the explanations, to help show where energy is being stored in the circuit, what Primary and Secondary are actually referring to, where the driver transistors are, etc.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Great idea! Thanks for the comment - I'll apply it to the March "The Trainer"! The topic - diagnosing COP ignitions!

[@thromboid]

@@MotorAgeMagazine Looking forward to it! Thank you for taking the time to read and reply.

[@kc360awareness]

Thanks again Pete. That rope illustration makes a ton of sense. If you have a high firing Kv there might not be enough energy left for a thorough in cylinder burn. Always practical realistic tips and advice.... even if you do make some of us “a little dangerous!”

[@isalmankhan1]

Thanks Pete👍

[@samstewart4807]

An Excellent video. Does anyone have a set of "standard patterns" for specific cars?

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

The ignition pattern is essentially the same for any gasoline spark-ignition engine - from a lawn mower to a NASCAR stock car. Best to learn what effects the pattern - "Analyze, don't memorize" is an adage a favorite instructor once shared with me.

[@juergenscholl2843]

@@MotorAgeMagazine This teacher was Mac Vandenbrink, the scope guru I guess. He wanted you to understand the electrons' behavior in the combustion chamber.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

juergen scholl None other!

[@richardcranium5839]

i miss the days of the distributor and the sun machine. once you figured it out it took longer to wire the machine than it did a diagnosis

[@MechanicMindset]

richard cranium 😂 My grandad had a mobile home tuning business, I always remember that thing. Took up the whole van nearly, wires everywhere! Never got to use it though. Now I have a Pico I can put in my pocket!!

[@samstewart4807]

WHY ARE THESE UTUBE SCUMBA--S SIGNING ME OUT OF ALL MY FAV CHANNELS????????//