Ignition system — general information (Escort 4)

The ignition system is designed to ignite the working mixture in the engine cylinders by a spark discharge, which must be created at a strictly defined moment.

On engines with a displacement of 1.1 dm³, a classic contact ignition system is installed, and on other engines, only a contactless ignition system has been installed since 1985. Depending on the engine type, either a transistor ignition system (TSZ) or an electronic ignition system (ESC-II – Electronic Spark Control) is installed.

The transistor ignition system has a centrifugal and vacuum ignition advance regulator. In the electronic ignition system, the function of the ignition advance regulator is performed by an electronic unit located on the left pillar in the engine compartment.

Since September 1988, a contactless ignition system without a distributor has been installed on engines with a displacement of 1.3 dm³ (46 kW/63 hp).