Perhaps, many motorists have encountered the problem that the VAZ 2114 does not start when cold or starts with great difficulty (moreover, this problem is typical not only for the 14th, but also for other AvtoVAZ models). It is not always possible to immediately find the cause of such a malfunction, because a variety of vehicle systems may be to blame.
We’ll talk about how to quickly detect and eliminate such a nuisance in today’s article.
VAZ 2114 doesn't start well
The VAZ 2114 doesn’t start well when it’s cold – 8 reasons and ways to solve them
Many car enthusiasts have encountered the problem while operating a car that the VAZ 2114 is difficult to start when cold. A problem like this can cause big trouble if you need to go somewhere urgently and your car lets you down. Problems can be both in the ignition system and in the electrical part of the vehicle. Let's take a closer look at the reasons for the poor launch of the VAZ 2114.
One of the causes of cold start problems:
Spark plug
Spark plugs are one of the main parts of the ignition system of any car. If the spark is weak, due to a malfunction the spark plug will not be able to ignite the fuel, resulting in misfires. And in the cold season this can become a huge problem.
First, unscrew the spark plugs and inspect their condition. It is worth assessing the degree of soot, the color of the spark plugs and the overall condition.
Do not forget that the service life of spark plugs is from 20 to 30 thousand kilometers.
If the spark plugs have brown or gray-brown soot, it means they are in working order and there is no need to change them yet. If you notice oil smudges, dense black carbon deposits, a melted electrode or some kind of deposits, this all means that there are problems in the gas distribution system or that the service life of the spark plug has already expired. If a VAZ 2114 (8-valve injector) does not start well, then due to the simplicity of the engine, the problem is most likely in the ignition system.
It is possible to clean the spark plugs and “calcinate” them, after which their operation will return to normal, but only for a while. It is better to resort to such repair methods if it is not possible to replace the spark plugs here and now.
How to do it?
The tools you can use are a regular toothbrush (or a metal brush) and a hair dryer (for more effective drying).
If you have the opportunity to take the candles home, you can “calcinate” them in the oven or directly on the burners. But this method is only temporary.
If the candles have already expired, then it is better to simply change them.
It happens that almost every day the spark plugs on the injector are filled. In such a situation, it is necessary to carry out a full check of the elements - for the presence of spark output, cleanliness of the injectors, quality of the spark, and so on.
Interesting read: Iridium spark plugs, pros and cons.
Fuel pressure control
The regulator consists of a membrane and a spring. During a malfunction, it may hang open and because of this, the fuel pressure in the system will not be enough for the engine to operate correctly and to start it, so the engine stalls when cold.
To check the functionality of the valve, it is not enough to simply remove the hose from the pump and see how strong the gasoline pressure is. Diagnostics must be carried out with a pressure gauge. There is a special connector for it on the fuel rail. We connect the device and try to start the engine. If the pressure in the system is below 3.6-4.0 atm , this is an indicator of a problem in the fuel supply system.
It is better to replace the pressure regulator in a special service, but if you want to do this process yourself, then follow the instructions:
- Disconnect the battery terminal;
- Remove the hose from the vacuum brake booster;
- Drain gasoline from the system;
- After this, start disconnecting the fuel rail from the pressure regulator.
- Replace and install everything in place.
If all work is performed correctly, the fault in this part of the system will be eliminated.
Useful : 11 reasons why the engine may fail
Fuel pump and related
The first malfunction is insufficient pressure in the fuel rail. During operation, the pump heats up and begins to pump poorly. Because of this, the car may stall and not start.
The pressure is checked by installing a pressure gauge. At idle in the system 2.5 atm, in power modes it should increase to 3. With a faulty pump, these indicators may differ between a cold and hot engine. Check in the mode in which problems arise.
One of the problems of the VAZ 2115 is the bypass valve, which, if faulty, begins to “let in” fuel on a heated engine. Bottom line: fuel pressure drops and takes time to build up. Symptoms are a long period of production or its complete absence.
Another reason for a drop in pressure in the system may be a clogged fuel filter or strainer in the tank. When heated, dirt expands and clogs the fuel flow.
Weak battery or oxidized terminals
The starter does not turn - this is another common problem. Its cause may be deposits or corrosion on the battery terminals or a dead battery.
Remember that the generator will not be able to charge the battery completely and from time to time it is advisable to charge it from the mains. This will help it not lose its capacity and increase its service life.
If you notice that the terminals have strange deposits on them, you should clean them and treat them with a special lubricant that will prevent a similar problem from occurring again.
Clogged breather
If the car starts and stalls when cold, then perhaps the reason is a clogged breather. The problem occurs due to the high mileage of the car, the use of low-quality oils, or wear of the piston group.
An engine malfunction can be diagnosed using several points:
- Increased oil consumption. It is thrown out of the engine into the intake and exhaust;
- The spark plug electrodes become oily;
- Drives oil out of the engine under the seals and gaskets.
If obvious signs of malfunction are detected, minor repairs will be required. It is necessary to remove the engine valve cover and thoroughly clean it of oil and dirt. It is also worth blowing through all the channels to clean them. Then we put everything back together.
Preparatory activities
If the VAZ 2107 carburetor does not function well and does not start after heating, then it is worth checking the car for malfunctions.
Technical inspection consists of several points:
- It is necessary to check the fluid level in the engine mechanisms.
- External surfaces should be checked for oil, antifreeze or fuel leaks. Carefully inspect the live wires connected to the spark plugs. The contacts must be free of any burns.
- If the car sits for a long time without moving, then some of the gasoline evaporates. To restore the level, you need to pump it up with a hand pump.
The next step is to turn on the engine. The driver sits behind the wheel and depresses the clutch pedal when the starter is turned on. If it spins more than 10 times and the engine does not start, then you should check for breakdown of the car’s mechanisms.
Crankshaft sensor malfunction
If you are looking for the answer to the question “why does the VAZ 2114 stall when cold,” then pay attention to the crankshaft sensor. It is responsible for controlling ignition and fuel, and if its operation is disrupted, then processes in the engine will occur at the wrong time. You can easily diagnose the problem thanks to the check - if there is a malfunction, it will blink or light up. To replace the sensor, it is better to contact a service center. You can do this yourself, but it is advisable to drive onto an overpass or pit for convenience.
Less commonly, the mass air flow sensor fails, which will affect engine performance.
Other reasons
It would seem that the bulk of probable malfunctions have already been listed, as well as methods for eliminating them. But it should be remembered that, in addition to problems with the fuel system and electrical systems, other factors can be the reasons for poor “grasping” of the engine. And the most common ones are bad fuel and unsuitable oil.
So, if you notice that the car has difficulty starting when cold, then try to refuel at other gas stations (preferably not just at others, but at gas stations from other companies). In some situations, this alone may be enough to solve the problem. The same applies to butter.
If summer oil is used in cold weather, this can also lead to poor engine performance at start-up. It is worth remembering this and always change the oil according to the current season.
Another source of trouble can be electronic sensors, and most often the crankshaft position sensor. It is he who transmits information to the controller, on the basis of which the ignition and fuel injection are controlled. It is very easy to find out about its malfunction - in this case, the check engine icon will light up on the dashboard. In order to check the condition of the sensor or replace it, you will have to contact the service department.
The timing marks are off
Another problem that the engine on a VAZ 2114 is difficult to start can be a skipped timing belt. This happens when there is poor tension or excessive wear. A discrepancy of more than two teeth will be significantly noticeable in the operation of the motor.
To check the mechanism, it is enough to remove the timing belt protective cover. Afterwards we mark it and check it.
If a discrepancy is found, repairs will have to be made. It is better to contact a good service station with this problem.
When faced with the problem of poor cold starting with a VAZ 2114, you should not hope that normal warming up of the engine will help fix it. Cars of this brand are quite simple, and if any problem arises, it should be looked for in the mechanics, since there are not many electronic systems here.
Possible consequences of long starter operation
When the starter is turned for a long time, the greatest damage is caused to the battery and starter. The first one loses its charge very quickly. When starting the engine, the starter consumes a lot of current, so the battery consumes most of its charge, which is then (after the engine has been started) replenished by charging from the generator.
Bendix failure
Old and new Bendix
With each such idle start, voltage from the battery is supplied to the bendix, which begins to rotate the shaft until the engine starts. At this moment, the splines on the bendix are severely worn out, and the bearing may also crumble or hum.
In these cases, there is only one way out - replacing the starter with a new one.
Why is the VAZ 2114 8-valve injector difficult to start?
For some reason, it seems that many drivers of this model will be interested in the question of why the VAZ 2114 8-valve injector does not start well. Finding the cause of this phenomenon is not as easy as it might seem at first. This is due to certain difficulties in troubleshooting in this model, since injection systems differ from carburetor systems. The algorithm for identifying possible problems will be built differently, adapting to the design features of the machine.
Why is the VAZ 2114 8-valve injector difficult to start?
, we will try to consider in this work. In a short article it is impossible to consider absolutely all possible problems; there are some that can only be identified with the help of diagnostic equipment. But, nevertheless, we will try to analyze as many such situations as possible in order to help all VAZ 2114 owners decide what to do in such a situation.
Why might the engine be difficult to start?
You can look for the culprit in such a situation in several directions. Among them, the most important problems are:
- Malfunctions in the ignition of a VAZ 2114 car
- There is no pressure in the fuel rail of the 8-cl VAZ engine
- Air leak into the VAZ intake manifold
- Timing belt marks are misaligned
Engine diagnostics using spark plugs
Let's look at the first option, why the VAZ 2114 doesn't start well. To do this, unscrew the candles and look at their color. If there is black dry carbon on the candles, we can say that the engine has been running for a long time on a rich mixture, which covers the candles with black carbon.
Why does black carbon appear on the spark plugs of an injection car:
- Malfunction of the mass air flow sensor
- The first oxygen sensor has failed
- Fuel pressure regulator is faulty
- Malfunction of fuel injectors
White carbon deposits on the spark plugs of an injection car appear due to a lean mixture, the reasons for the appearance:
- Everything is the same as with black soot
- Malfunction of the fuel pump or clogged fuel filter (check the mesh and fine filter)
- Air leaks through the air flow sensor pipe, the place where the regulator is attached to the XX joints of the manifold.
Checking the spark plug spark
The lack of a spark on one 8-cl spark plug of a VAZ engine will not affect the engine starting, it will be noticeable when idling, tripping and jumping revs. But if the ignition module of the VAZ 2114 is faulty, then the spark disappears in two cylinders 1-4 or 2-3. To check the spark plug spark, take out the fuel pump fuse, unscrew one spark plug or take a spare one, remove the high-voltage wires one by one, put them on the spark plug, then put the whole thing on ground (in this case, the valve cover) and ask a friend to crank the engine with the starter, so we check each spark plug. If there is no spark on one spark plug, most likely there is a defect in the explosive wires; if there is a spark in two or all spark plugs, it is highly likely that the problem is in the ignition module or the wiring to it.
INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTICS IN THE GARAGE
If you have problems with the operation of the injection system, you should first diagnose the ECU. In this regard, the owners of the VAZ 2114 are more fortunate with the German VDO instrumentation - it has a self-diagnosis mode. On cars with a dashboard from Schetmash there is no such functionality.
VDO dashboard for VAZ 2114
Working with the self-diagnosis mode on the VDO panel is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- With the ignition off, hold the odometer button for several seconds;
- turn the ignition to position “1”, release the button;
- if the arrows start running on the display, everything is fine, press once (information message about the firmware version) and release, with a second press an error code will appear;
- You can reset the error by holding the button until “0” appears.
Injection problems that cause the car to stall can be indicated by the numbers 1 (ECU error), 14,15 (coolant sensor errors), 22, 23 (DPS errors), 33, 34 (MAF errors), 42 (ignition malfunction) , 44, 45 (lean or rich mixture). The disadvantage of self-diagnosis on the VAZ 2114 is that if there are several errors, the system sums up the codes. Thus, the number “22” may mean a TPS error or low on-board voltage and a coolant sensor error (8 + 14).
For more accurate diagnostics of the injector, you need to immediately contact a service center or purchase a diagnostic scanner (it costs about 1000 rubles).
Why is the VAZ 2114 difficult to start?
For some reason, it seems that many drivers of this model will be interested in the question of why the VAZ 2114 does not start well . Finding the cause of this phenomenon is not as easy as it might seem at first. This is due to certain difficulties in troubleshooting in this model, since injection systems differ from carburetor systems. The algorithm for identifying possible problems will be built differently, adapting to the design features of the machine.
Why is the VAZ 2114 8-valve injector difficult to start?
So why is the VAZ 2114 difficult to start? In fact, there can be simply a huge number of reasons for this problem! Here are the most common ones:
- Malfunction in the electrical part of the car
- The timing marks on the VAZ 2114 are not set correctly
- No spark
- VAZ 2114 crankshaft sensor faulty
- Faulty starter, etc.
Let's talk in more detail about these faults and find out how to fix the problem of poor starting of the VAZ 2114 engine.
Battery problems
Most often, the main reason for poor starting of a domestic (and not only) car is a discharged battery. If after turning the key the ignition does not occur, most likely the on-board power supply to the battery is disconnected. The solution to the problem is simple - you just need to check the terminals and, if necessary, charge the battery (the indicator sensor should light green). By the way, this is also indicated by the “dead” state of the starter (then the VAZ-2114 does not start at all).
When, after trying to start the car, you do not hear the starter rotating, and at the same time light bulbs appear on the panel board, then clearly the cause of all this will be a discharged battery.
VAZ 2114 does not start well - is it an electrical fault?
A malfunction in the electrical part of the car, for some reason most of the problems lie here, so we will dwell in detail on each option here:
- On a VAZ 2114, this usually indicates a violation in the ignition switch - starter line, but one of the reasons for the breakdown “for blondes” is a dead battery, do not forget about it (checked with a voltmeter: it should be at least 11.8 V - and with a hydrometer, if the battery is serviceable : at least 1.22 in each jar). Let's move on. The cause of such a malfunction may be a breakdown of the ignition switch cylinder, and the injector has nothing to do with it. If, when turning the key, new sensations arise (something catches, turning has become easier or, conversely, more difficult), that’s the problem.
- Under the panel, approximately above the clutch, there are two relays: ignition switch and starter release. The reason may be a malfunction of one of them. They are checked according to the manual by a good electrician or replaced with a known working one.
- Starter. Often the cause may be a jammed “retractor”. If you are standing in a field, you should try hitting it with something heavy like a large key (without fanaticism) - it may help. If the car is parked in a garage, you should remove the starter and try to start it directly from the battery. To do this, press the housing to the zero terminal of the battery, install the wire with the alligator clip on the positive terminal of the battery and bring it to the positive of the retractor. If the starter makes an attempt to jump out of your hands, everything is fine (be careful, it is not recommended to carry out this procedure without basic knowledge of safety precautions and an assistant!). If there is no reaction, the problem is in the retractor. If the relay buzzes, but the starter does not turn, the problem is in the brushes. If the starter makes a terrible sound, but does not turn, the problem is in the bendix. If the starter turns, replace the battery and check the power supply to the chips that are connected to the starter (with an assistant, one turns the key, the other measures it with a multimeter).
Also pay attention to the ground wire that goes to the battery. If there are breaks in the wiring at the point of contact with the body or at the terminal, it must be replaced. It is also worth disconnecting the wire from the body and thoroughly cleaning it with a metal brush. The reason for the failure to start may be simple oxidation.
VAZ 2114 starts poorly - no spark
The ignition module is one of the key problems of the VAZ 2114 on the injector. It breaks often and sometimes a new one comes with a defect. You can read more about checking the ignition module in other material on our website. Please note that the problem may also lie in the chip that is connected to the module. The presence of power on it must also be checked.
DPCV is another reason why there may be no spark. Since this sensor monitors the firing phases of the cylinders, it is one of the key elements of the ignition system. Note that the probability of its failure is lower than that of the ignition module. It is checked by an electrician using an oscilloscope; garage methods do not provide an accurate assessment of the condition of the sensor (only replacement with a guaranteed working one).
ECU. “January” is a relatively reliable injector, but the “brains” can also malfunction from time to time. Often the problem with them is identified by a violation of the injection phases: for example, a spark is supplied only to cylinders 2 and 4, or only to cylinders 1 and 3. Sometimes the issue can be resolved by simply cleaning the contacts on the ECU chip; it is also subject to oxidation, which causes signal loss.
