EETC EETC - Equipment & Engine Training Council Ignition Systems and Spark Technology Questions and Answers 1

Question 1

What is the primary function of the ignition coil in a small engine?

Accepted Answer

Step up low battery voltage to high voltage needed to fire the spark plug

Answer

The ignition coil transforms low primary voltage into the high-voltage spark (typically 20,000–40,000 volts) needed to jump the spark plug gap and ignite the air-fuel mixture.

Question 2

On a magneto-based ignition system, what component triggers spark at the correct crankshaft position?

Accepted Answer

Points or electronic trigger module aligned with the flywheel magnets

Answer

Breaker points or an electronic trigger module detect the passing of flywheel magnets and signal the coil to collapse its magnetic field and fire the spark plug.

Question 3

What is the correct method for measuring spark plug gap on a small engine?

Accepted Answer

Wire-type feeler gauge inserted between center and ground electrode

Answer

A wire-type feeler gauge provides an accurate measurement of the spark plug gap because the rounded wire matches the curved electrode shape better than a flat gauge.

Question 4

What does a black, sooty spark plug indicate about engine combustion?

Accepted Answer

Rich fuel mixture or oil fouling

Answer

Black, sooty deposits on a spark plug indicate excess unburned carbon from a rich fuel mixture or oil entering the combustion chamber.

Question 5

What is ignition timing advance, and why is it necessary?

Accepted Answer

Firing the spark plug before top dead center to allow full combustion pressure at the power stroke

Answer

Spark is fired before TDC so the combustion event reaches peak pressure just after TDC, maximizing the force applied to the piston during the power stroke.

EETC - Equipment & Engine Training Council Practice Test

EETC - Equipment & Engine Training Council Practice Test

EETC EETC - Equipment & Engine Training Council Ignition Systems and Spark Technology Questions and Answers 1