MITSUBISHI Electronic Ignition System - Rotary Engine: Description

The Mitsubishi electronic ignition system used on the Mazda RX7 rotary engine is unique in that it has 2 sets of spark plugs (leading and trailing) with one set in the front rotor housing and one in the rear rotor housing. See Figure. There are also 2 ignition coils, 2 pick-up coils in the distributor, and 2 coil-to-distributor high tension wires.

There are 2 separate ignitors mounted on the distributor base. One is for leading side and the other for trailing side. Other system components include a battery, ignition switch, ignition control switches, (water temperature, altitude, etc.), and various relays. All models are equipped with an ignition control system and centrifugal advance mechanisms. All models have vacuum control units for both leading and trailing sides.