Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-18
AUTO LESSONS
CAUSE OF TROUBLE WITH
So CARS IGNITION SYSTEM
lack OF Current From Source, broken
$3.50 circuit md Mechanical Nrcak
ff-S3Ss May Cause Failure.

may. result because of one Of the fol-
sewing basic causes: Lack OF current
from the source, broken circuit. a
chemical devices.
AZ would DC we'll TO bear the above
insImind. as should your spark fall
ands this may happen when YOU are
miles away from garage or tele
sphoue-you will have to check up tho
ignition system for these. one by one.
and SO. by process of elimination,
find2which of the four is a, fault.
cit would be we'll TO study the wiring
OF your car. which can be done by
studyins the wiring diagram. which
top book. In doing this. first deter
mine what the units in the primary
81. low-To!taSc system are, and then
those in the secondary or high-volt-
age system. and their sequence. Thus
II the car has the distributor system,
II would be found that the units in
the |. primary are the ,hattery. the
switch, the induction coil and tho :u-
terrupter while in the secondary
there are the coil, the distributor ana
the@epark plugs,
Nov if sonnet thing Should 20 wrong
with the ignition system. we would
have to think of the four basic causes
OF trouble as given above. Tie first
Of these is the battery.
II we have storage battery which
also furnishes current FOR the lights.
we.need only throw on the headlight
switch to sec ii tho battery is at fault
as If the headlights are bright then
Ee-know that the battery Is o. X.
tor.tt takes more current for them
terry, as tho cause Of the trouble ia
instantly eliminated and can be for
gotten.
r.. however. the headlights fail to
tory or the main wires from the bat
terry TO the ground Gf = grounded
system). or TO the gang switch is at
fault. The battery can he tested by
means OF hydronetcr which Will
show If it is charged or discharged.
or by touching the wires OF the trouble
lamp to the positive and negitive ter
minals II the trouble lamp lights the
fault is in the wires just mentioned.
They may be poorly connected. broken,
or short circuited.
be tested by an ammetcr, as such u
battery must give reading at least
10. amperes II il mas enough life 20
supply current for the ignition.
showing that tho battery was o. *.
thensit will, be necessary 30 trace tho
wires. one oy one, locking for either a
bare or badly oil-soaked wire. as the
latter two would mean a short circuit.
In ltracins wires for snort circuit,
aiming the ends, Or terminals, "a a
portion or the uncovered or noninSu-
lated ends may touch some metal part
OF tho engine or accessories
In tracing IL is best TO 20 abou, the
work Systematically. Thus II the units
are battery, switch. coil, nterrupter
and return. through tho ground hrst
the wire from the battery to switch
should be examined, then from switch
TO coil, then coil TO interrupted then
interruptcr TO ground to battery.
The battery being o. X. and no wires
loose, broken or short circuited then
we have left only q fault IN the mo
chanicsl devices of the system as a
possible cause of the trouble Before
Investigating these. ii would be well
to first examine the secondary wires
for diSconnection or short circuit
Whist mechanical devices arc there
In the distributor type of ignition sys-
tenn? The switch and the interrupter
In the primary circuit and the distribu-
tor In the. secondary circuit.
The switch il often the cause OF
trouble. though in the later types this
is not so much SO as in previous types
AZ rule an examination only Will
show the fault, but as this often means
taking the switch off. it would be we'll
to first test il with the trouble lamp.
This can be done by determining