Tool Review: General Technologies Engine Ignition Analyzer
The General Technologies Ignition System Analyzer, No. GTC505, is compatible with all common types of spark ignition systems. The GTC505 can display waveforms in real time, compare readings between cylinders and detect and display dwell angle and primary current ramp time. Additionally, the device can chart burn time, spark plug voltage, dwell/ramp time and rpm for each spark, allowing for the detection of misfires. It displays all this data on its 3.5" color TFT LCD screen. Its rechargeable Li-ion battery provides six hours of continuous use, and it passed the MIL-STD-810 drop test.
The review
Upon using the General Technologies Engine Ignition Analyzer, No. GTC 505, Brian Noel was quick to discover that it took less time to set up than most oscilloscopes for reading secondary ignition patterns.
The professor of automotive mechanics at Sacramento, Calif.-based Consumnes River College was also immediately impressed by the tool’s ease of use, its capability of providing him with the necessary ignition patterns and waveforms, as well as KV readings for diagnosing vehicles.
“(This) tool is ready to use in under a minute,” says Noel, adding that he felt the GTC505 was very easy to employ and offered menus and controls that were well laid-out and fairly intuitive.
Noel set up some situations to use the tool for instructional purposes, and he says the GTC505 performed well as a quick, easy means for monitoring engine rpm while conducting other work or testing under the vehicle’s hood. In addition, he says, it provides an easy mechanism for comparing KV readings on multiple cylinders very quickly.
“This can be useful for diagnosing misfire concerns and, with some knowledge of normal readings, this could even be used to help detect concerns with ignition coils or spark plugs before they create a misfire condition,” he says.
Noel was pleased that the GTC505 arrived packaged in a hard plastic carrying case that was compact enough for easy storage. He also notes that included with the tool were all of its necessary accessories, including a flexible probe with adapters for both traditional spark plug wires and coil on plug ignition systems, as well as a USB cable, an AC adapter and a manual.
“The manual makes it easy to understand how to set up and use the tool, but it might be nice to include some more tips on how to actually use the tool to aid in diagnosis,” Noel says.
The automotive instructor adds that he wished the tool offered the ability for him to adjust how the waveforms were displayed on the GTC505’s screen, such as allowing him to zoom or shift the pattern left and right.
“It would also be beneficial in some cases to have a pickup probe that was longer and skinnier,” Noel continues. “The included probe, while flexible, requires the tool to be fairly close to the wire or coil being tested. A longer probe could allow for easier use and might allow access to coils or wires under intake manifolds that would be inaccessible with the current configuration.”
Overall, though, he says he found this tool to be easy to use and more than capable of providing useful and impactful diagnostic information quickly—as well as much easier to employ for reading secondary ignition patterns when compared to setting up an oscilloscope.
“It doesn’t provide the level of detail that an oscilloscope does, but it is a fraction of the cost and takes much less time to set up,” he adds.
Manufacturer’s note: Since the testing of this tool, the company has provided a solution to the request for a longer, slimmer probe with the release of a 78” long cable and clip-on sensor for spark plug wires, which can also be used with COP.
