What is NOT a component of the ignition system?

The catalytic converter is indeed not a component of the ignition system. The ignition system's primary function is to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinders, and it consists of several critical components that work together to perform this task.

The spark plug generates the spark necessary to ignite the fuel. The distributor cap directs the high-voltage current from the ignition coil to the appropriate cylinder at the right time. The ignition coil transforms the battery's low voltage to the higher voltage needed to create a spark at the spark plugs. In contrast, the catalytic converter is part of the vehicle's exhaust system, serving to reduce harmful emissions by facilitating chemical reactions that convert pollutants into less harmful substances.

Understanding the functions of these components provides clarity on how the ignition system operates separately from the exhaust system, which further reinforces why the catalytic converter does not belong in the ignition system classification.