Ignition Systems for Mechanical Dummies

basic components of an ignition system

We know for a fact that the drones who write (wrote?) for eHow.com could only change the wording of a "title" in the case of an egregious spelling error; we don't know if the same is (was?) true at WiseGEEK.com. Given the utter inanity of the title addressed by today's DotD, however, it looks like that same rule applies/applied. After all, the supposed question, "How do I Replace an Ignition?" (now at niche site WikiMotors.com) doesn't make any sense – although neither does Lori Kilchermann running with the title.

An informal poll of the Antisocial Network staff (those at HQ at the time, anyway) suggests that the OQ wanted to know how to replace an ignition switch, but that's not how Kilchermann read it – perhaps because she had never performed maintenance on a vehicle. That lack of experience is pretty clear from her introduction:

"In order to replace an ignition, it is imperative that all components be examined. Failure to inspect every piece of the system can lead to a non-starting vehicle even after replacing the ignition."

Yup: she found out somewhere that a group of automotive parts make up "an ignition system" so she forged on, telling her readers to replace the entire friggin' system! Never mind that the system includes parts (distributor, coil, ignition switch) that are not "wear items" like the spark plugs, spark plug leads, and battery... No, Lori "explained" to her readers that,

"This is why it is wise to replace an ignition as a complete system."

Yup: you're supposed to R & R "a complete system"! And, of course, given Kilchermann's transparent lack of knowledge of automotive systems, she ain't gonna give you any details (because she doesn't know them). Instead, Lori instructed her readers to,

"...check the serpentine belt system on the vehicle's engine when planning to replace an ignition..."

...not to mention this bit of wisdom:

"Often, the vehicle's spark timing can be altered by manipulating the spark plug wires and distributor cap. This is not as prevalent on distributor-less ignition systems."

It doesn't take an auto mechanic with forty years of greasy fingernails to realize that 1) Kilchermann had no idea how to replace any part of the ignition system; 2) she didn't write anything about replacing one, either; and 3) Lori is richly deserving of her third Dumbass of the Day award for this dreck.

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DDIY - ENGINES