What exactly dose the "Igniter" do? I know about coils, distributors, wires, plugs etc. but the Igniter is $400.00 bucks to do what?
don't say "Make truck run"

 

well it does, and I bet without it is wouldn't run

I'd like to hear the facts on this as well... I'm not sure why it can't be so simple as just the coil hooked directly to the cap, and the coil getting a solid 12v switched with the ignition... like in the older days when automotives were automotives, not computers...

 

its actually the ignitor and ignition coil on one unit.. when mine quit working truck would crank all day long but not catch.. its sends the spark to each plug.. it gets a signal from distributor.

 

ummmm, their not one unit per say... you can replace the coil and ignitor seaperately... I have an MSD coil paired with my stock ignitor

but yeah, the coil, ignitor, and distributor all work in a loop of connections; it the connection were lost between any of them, there would be no spark

 

Sorry! "BigT" they may work together, somehow but are two separate units. I know you can have an after market coil but you still need the Igniter. But why?
Yep, "iamsuperbleeder" is right

 

the igniter acts in place of the points in a typical distributor. it charges and discharges the coil and works provide the optimal sparkfor the plugs and dwell for the coil.
It also has a 'feedback' that can determine whether or not a proper combustion event occurred in a cylinder and can offer feedback to the ECU with regards to that. It can tell if a cylinder misfired- IGF ("I Got Fire" signal).

 

check http://www.rockauto.com

 

It is what gives the ECU control over the timing of the spark. Like abec said, points and advance/retard mechanism in one, using input from the ECU.

 

the more you know
i just assumed they was one unit because i replaced them both when it went out with a spare set i had.. musta just been hooked up together!!!

i also notcied mine starting not to work in the cold or dam before it totally died..dont kow if it was ignitor or coil..

 

Hello I just replaced the coil in my truck for no reason. Then thought it was the ignitor its self. But when I looked up the prices on that part I said forget it. So I had a friend of mine come over and test his parts from his Yota on mine. Come to find out. We cannot figure out whts wrong w/ my truck. The thing starts and runs only 10 seconds then shuts off and will not start again really until the next morning. We have checked everything!!!!! Any ideas?? Im new to this site...

 

Nice threadjack!
What motor? What does "everything" constitute? Off hand, sounds like fuel.