System and method for monitoring an ignition system
A system for monitoring and cleaning a spark plug is disclosed. In one example, rim firing of a spark plug is detected according to characteristics of a voltage of a primary coil of an ignition coil. The system may institute spark plug cleaning after rim firing of a spark plug is detected.
1. A method for monitoring a spark plug, comprising:
charging an ignition coil supplying electrical energy to the spark plug; and
adjusting engine operation via a controller in response to a voltage of a primary ignition coil at a time where the voltage of the primary ignition coil is an adjustable percentage of a peak voltage resulting from discharging the ignition coil during a cycle of a cylinder.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the time is longer for an abnormal spark than for a normal spark.
3. The method of claim 1 , where the peak voltage is a maximum voltage of the primary ignition coil during the cycle of the cylinder.
4. The method of claim 1 , where adjusting engine operation includes leaning an air-fuel mixture, advancing engine spark timing, increasing engine speed, and adjusting cam timing.
5. The method of claim 1 , where adjusting engine operation includes increasing engine load, increasing a charging time of the ignition coil, increasing a total number of charging and discharging events of the ignition coil, and decreasing exhaust gas recirculation.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a spark via a secondary ignition coil that is magnetically coupled to the primary ignition coil.
7. The method of claim 6 , where the spark is generated at a spark plug.