Ignition Coil Secondary
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 L83
Sensor Type
inductive
Waveform Type
dc-variable
Location
Secondary circuit from coil-on-plug assembly to spark plug, each cylinder head
Pins
Unknown
Idle Frequency
16.67 Hz
Timebase
5ms/div
Voltage Scale
5kV/div
Trigger
5kV, rising edge
Wiring
N/A - internal coil winding to spark plug terminal
Expected Voltage Range
At Idle
0V to 35000V
At Higher RPM
0V to 45000V
Expected Pattern
Firing line rises sharply to 8-15kV, horizontal spark line at 2-4kV for 1-1.5ms, followed by coil oscillations at 1-3kV diminishing over 1-2ms
Known-Good Waveform
Firing line should reach 8-15kV at idle with clean vertical rise in under 0.1ms, spark line burns flat and stable at 2-4kV for approximately 1.2ms duration, followed by 4-6 diminishing oscillations. All 8 cylinders should show consistent firing voltage within 3kV of each other.
Common Failure Patterns
Firing line exceeds 20kV with short spark duration under 0.8ms
Cause: Worn spark plugs with excessive gap, carbon tracking in coil boot, or lean air-fuel mixture
Intermittent missing firing events or firing line drops below 5kV
Cause: Carbon tracking in coil, cracked coil spring or boot, fouled spark plug
Diagnostic Tips
Use capacitive pickup on coil or spark plug wire due to COP design. L83 direct injection creates more carbon buildup - compare firing voltage between banks as intake valve deposits affect cylinder filling and spark requirements. Replace plugs at 60k mile intervals as gap erosion significantly increases required voltage.
Related Diagnostic Trouble Codes
P0300P0301P0302P0303
Always confirm waveform data with your vehicle's OEM service manual before diagnosing.
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