I want to understand why the Lancer engine (I have a Oz 2003) is setup differently with respect to spark plugs and wires. I usually think .. 4 cylinders.. 4 plugs and 4 wires.... and 1 wire to the distributor cap. Not the lancer... 4 plugs, 2 wires, and 2 electronic coils mounted on top of 2 of the plugs, and no distributor cap.

I talk to my dad about it, and it reminded him about his 1950 Chevy pickup that he has. 8 cyl, 8 plugs, no wires, no distributor cap. Electronic nodes on each of the plugs. It seems that the Lancer is sort of a hybrid.

My question is...why didn't they go all the way and do all 4 like that ? What advantage did it serve to drive 2 cylinders off of one electronic coil.

I am very curious. Anyone know ?

here is a pic if it helps to know what i am talking about. You can clearly see two plug boots... the other two plugs are underneath those electronic coils.


http://www.mylxhq.com/lancer/DSCF4044.JPG


Thank you in advance.

 

Thats pretty common for Mitsu in a whole bunch of applications not just the Lancer. It works so why all the extra stuff????

 

Because it is a waste spark setup where one coil pack fires two cylinders in a waste fire arrangement. This takes care of unburnt fuel on the non power stroke and helps spark plugs last longer.

 

^^^what he said^^^ its called a waste spark set up

 

Thanks for the answer... searched everywhere I could think of on the net... should have came here first. Lesson learned from the past maybe ?

 

Also, it's a distributor-less system too.

Save on parts cost-wise and more engine space