Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Ignition discharge module: Ignition
The ignition discharge module is located on the camshaft cover above the spark plugs. It contains 4 ignition coils, the secondary winding of which are connected to the spark plugs.
The ignition discharge module is powered with B+ from the main relay and is grounded to grounding point G7.
When the main relay operates, B+ will be fed to the ignition discharge module, which converts the 12V to 400V DC and stores it in a capacitor. The 400V is connected to one of the poles of the primary winding on each of the 4 ignition coils.
There are 4 trigger leads running from the control module to the ignition discharge module connected as follows:
- Cylinder 1 is connected to control module pin 7.
- Cylinder 2 is connected to control module pin 54.
- Cylinder 3 is connected to control module pin 55.
- Cylinder 4 is connected to control module pin 8.
When the control module grounds pin 7, the other pole on the primary winding of the ignition coil for cylinder 1 will be connected to the B+ input on the ignition discharge module. 400V is stepped up to maximum 40kV in the ignition coil for cylinder 1. Ignition takes place for cylinder 2, 3 and 4 in the same way.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
