Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

Engine Electrical
Chapter Outline

This chapter explains the engine electrical components and the mechanism and operation of engine electrical systems.

• Engine Electrical
• Battery
• Starting System
• Charging System
• Ignition System

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

Engine Electrical

Engine Electrical

Various pieces of equipment are necessary for starting the engine

and operating it in a stable manner.

Battery
It serves as a power supply for the electrical parts of a vehicle.
Starting System
System to start the engine.
Charging System
System to generate electricity used in the vehicle and charge
the battery.
Ignition System
System to ignite the compressed air-fuel mixture.
Ignition Switch
Main switch of the vehicle.
Combination Meter (Discharge Warning Light)
Lights if unable to charge.
Sensors
Part to detect the water temperature or engine speed etc. and
transmit to ECU (Electronic Control Unit.)

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Battery

Battery

The battery is a rechargeable device that serves as a power

supply for the electrical parts when the engine is stopped. When
the engine is running, it stores the used electricity.

HINT:
A battery inspection consists of checking the level and the specific
density of the electrolyte.

CAUTION:
The following precautions must be taken when handling a battery:
• Keep it away from fire during charging, because hydrogen
gas is emitted.
• Keep the electrolyte, in which the sulfuric acid is used, away
from your body, clothes or the vehicle body.

Negative Terminal
The portion of the battery to which the negative cable is
connected.
Vent Plug
Discharges gas vapors during charging.
Plug to supply the electrolyte.
Indicator
Used for checking the state of charge or the electrolyte level.
Positive Terminal
The portion of the battery to which the positive cable is
connected.
Electrolyte
Chemically reacts with the pole plates to charge and discharge
electricity.
Cell
Each cell generates approximately 2.1V of electricity.
Pole Plate
Consists of positive and negative plates.

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

REFERENCE:
Charging and discharging principle

A battery charges and discharges electrical energy through the

chemical reaction of the electrolyte.

Discharging
Electrical energy is generated when the sulfuric acid of the
electrolyte reacts with lead and turns into water. At this time, the
sulfuric acid combines with the pole plates, causing the positive
and negative pole plates to turn into lead sulfate.

Charging
Because sulfuric acid is discharged from the pole plates, the
electrolyte turns into sulfuric acid, and the specific gravity of the
electrolyte increases. The positive pole plates turn into lead
dioxide and the negative pole plates turn into sponge lead.

H2SO4:Sulfuric H2O:Water H2:Hydrogen O2:Oxygen Discharging amperage

Charging amperage

HINT:
When a chemical reaction (electrolysis of water) occurs in the
electrolyte during charging, the positive pole plates generate
oxygen and the negative pole plates generate hydrogen. Due to
the electrolysis of water, the volume of the electrolyte decreases,
thus requiring replenishment.

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Battery identification codes

Battery identification codes, which are marked on the battery
body, indicate the battery size and performance, which is the
electrical storage capacity.

Performance
Indicates the amount of electricity that can be stored in the battery
(battery capacity). The greater the number, the greater is the
amount of electrical energy that the battery can store.

Battery capacity (AH)=

amount of discharging
amperage x length
of discharging time

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

Battery width and height

The battery's width and height combination is indicated by one of
eight letters (A through H).
The closer the letter is to H, the greater are the battery's width and
height.

Width
Height

Battery length
Indicates the battery length in centimeters (cm).
Length

For example:
If "19" is indicated, the length is approximately 19 cm.

Position of the negative terminal

Indicates whether the negative terminal of the battery is located on
the right (R) or left (L), of the battery, when looked at from the
front (the direction in which one can read the ID code correctly).

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

REFERENCE:
Terminal diameter
The positive and negative terminals of the battery have different
diameters, to avoid connect connecting to the wrong terminal.

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Starting System
Starting System
The starting system forces the engine to crank with an electric
motor, and starts the engine.

Battery
Ignition switch
Starter

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REFERENCE:
Types of Starters

There are four types of starters, as shown on the left.

Conventional type
A type of starter in which the armature and pinion gear rotate
in an identical manner.
Reduction type
A type of starter that has an idler gear between the drive and
driven gears in order to reduce the rotation of the armature
and transmit it to the pinion gear.
Planetary type
A type of starter that has planetary gears to reduce the
rotation of the armature. It is more compact and lightweight
than the reduction type.
Planetary reduction-Segment conductor motor type
Permanent magnets are used in the field coil. The armature
coil has been made more compact, resulting in a shorter
overall length.

Pinion gear
Armature
Idler gear
Planetary gear
Permanent magnet

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

Charging System

Charging System

The charging system produces electricity to supply the electrical

components with the amount of electricity required, and to charge
the battery while the vehicle's engine is in operation.
As soon as the engine starts, the drive belt causes the alternator
to operate.

Alternator
Battery
Discharge warning light
Ignition switch

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Ignition System

Ignition System

The ignition system generates sparks at high- voltage, and ignites

the air-fuel mixture, which is compressed in the cylinders, at the
optimal timing.
Based on the signals received from the sensors, the engine ECU
(Electronic Control Unit) effects control to achieve optimal ignition
timing.

Ignition switch
Battery
Ignition coil with igniter
Spark plug
Engine ECU
Camshaft position sensor
Crankshaft position sensor

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Frequent Service Job Course Engine Electrical

Exercises

Use the Exercises to check your level of understanding for the material in this Chapter. After answering each Exercise,
you can use the reference button to check the pages related to the current question. When you get a wrong answer,
please return to the text to review the material and find the correct answer. When all questions have been answered
correctly, you can go to the next Chapter.

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Frequent Service Job Cource Engine Electrical
Exercise
Question-1
Select the description of each of the parts shown in the illustration below from statements a) to d).

a) System to ignite the compressed air-fuel mixture.

b) System to generate electricity for vehicle and to charge the battery.
c) System to start the engine.
d) System to turn on the warning light.

Answer: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Question-2
The following illustration is of an ignition system. Which one of the indicated positions controls the ignition timing is
correct?

1n
j 2n
k
l
m j 3n
k
l
m j 4n
k
l
m j
k
l
m

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