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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare to diagnose and repair ignition system
  2. Diagnose ignition system
  3. Repair ignition system
  4. Compete work processes
  5. Prepare to diagnose and repair ignition system
  6. Diagnose ignition system
  7. Repair ignition system
  8. Compete work processes

Range Statement

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.

Safety requirements must include:

work health and safety (WHS) and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including procedures for:

using specialised tools and equipment

using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

identifying hazards and controlling risks associated with:

working on high voltage ignition systems

wearing jewellery while working around high current wiring systems.


Performance Evidence

Before competency can be determined, individuals must demonstrate they can perform the following according to the standard defined in the unit’s elements and performance criteria, range of conditions and foundation skills:

diagnose and repair a fault in the ignition systems of two different vehicles, vessels or machinery, including faults in two of the following:

magneto with contact points

magneto with solid state trigger

capacitive discharge ignition

distributor with contact points

distributor with hall effect sensor

distributor with induction magnetic trigger

distributor with optical sensor

waste spark

coil on plug.


Knowledge Evidence

Individuals must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

work health and safety (WHS) and occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements relating to diagnosing and repairing ignition systems, including procedures for:

using specialised tools and equipment

using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

identifying hazards and controlling risks associated with:

working on high voltage ignition systems

wearing jewellery while working around high current wiring systems

operating principles of ignition systems and associated components, including:

generating principles, including Faraday’s law and inducing an electromotive force (EMF)

application, purpose and operation of ignition systems and components, including:

ignition coils, including:

internal component function and operation: primary windings, iron core and secondary windings

electromagnetic induction in the coil

spark plugs: identification, thread size, reach, heat range, resistance-type plugs, and type and number of earth electrodes

ignition leads

Kettering ignition system, including:

primary section: battery, ignition switch, ballast resistor, ignition coil primary windings, contact breaker point and capacitor

secondary section: ignition coil secondary windings, coil high tension lead, rotor button and distributor cap, spark plug high tension leads and spark plugs

firing order

ignition timing and methods of varying timing according to engine load and speed

electronic ignition systems, including:

pulse generator systems: stator and rotor units, ignition control units, current limiting and dwell control

Hall effect systems: Hall effect device, and permanent magnet and signal waveform

optical ignition systems: light emitting diodes (LEDs), rotating disc and optical electronic semiconductors

magneto ignition systems: shuttle and inductor magnetos, and energy transfer ignition systems

capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) systems:

transformer, charging circuit, triggering circuit, main capacitor and rectifier

alternating current CDI

direct current CDI

waste spark ignition systems

coil on plug ignition systems

diagnostic testing procedures for ignition systems, including:

using diagnostic flow charts

testing electrical systems, including procedures for:

accessing electrical terminals and using test probes without damaging connectors, fuse holders or wiring

checking resistance, current flow and voltage drop of ignition system circuits

testing ignition coils

using oscilloscopes, including interpreting ignition system primary and secondary waveforms

repair procedures for ignition systems, including:

removing and replacing faulty or damaged components

setting contact breaker gap and checking dwell

adjusting ignition system timing

removing, replacing and re-timing distributors

post-repair testing procedures for ignition systems, including static and dynamic performance tests of ignition systems.