How to choose the right used car VAZ 2114

VAZ-2114 is a very common car in Russia. This car is loved for its maintainability and low maintenance. The car will not require a lot of money if it breaks down. But, unfortunately, sooner or later the VAZ-2114 engine “check” will light up on the instrument panel. Don’t be upset or panic – most of the reasons can be eliminated with your own hands. In today’s article we will look at why the “check” light on the VAZ-2114 is on, as well as how to solve this problem. This information will be very useful.

“Sores in the car.” VAZ-2114 “four” 2006

Alexey Filippov 14 July 2016 16:23

What pitfalls can there be when buying a used “four”?

No matter who you listen to, everyone recommends buying something inexpensive and reliable as your first car. For example, VAZ-2114, 2115. And until recently, the “fourteenth” was perhaps the most popular car in the budget segment in Russia. However, few can imagine what awaits a person who decides to buy a 6-8 year old VAZ, and even as the first car or after the person who had this car first.

Oleg bought a 2006 VAZ-2114 in September 2013 and the first thing he did was install central locking and an alarm system in the car. Not counting the cost of insurance and registration, the car consumed 8 thousand rubles and said “more.” At least that's what the owner claims.

By the end of December of the same year, the car's clutch had run out. The replacement cost 3,200 rubles. Along with the clutch, the pipes and oil level sensor were changed. And the pre-New Year expenses amounted to 8,620 rubles - a gift to the car for the holiday.

After driving on the winter roads of Kirov in the spring, the rear and part of the front suspension gave up life. Since it was possible for friends to have it repaired, there was a small saving. However, the final amount of 10,000 rubles still hit the budget.

After struggling with the suspension, it was time to tackle the engine. Here, in addition to milling the cylinder head, we had to change the pump and all the accompanying belts and rollers, and tensioners. Probably due to insufficient cooling at one time the head was removed, which resulted in subsequent repairs. The amount of investment in the spring car repairs, including the suspension, amounted to 24,420 rubles.

The summer of 2014 passed without major investments, and in September it was time for maintenance. The service cost 430 rubles.

At the end of the year in December, the car owner faced new expenses: pads and bearings. Replacing the pads in a circle and bearings cost 2,000 rubles.

With these investments, the calculation of expenses for the car was stopped and the total amount was more than 54 thousand rubles. Although Oleg himself says that about 70 thousand were invested, it’s just that not all of the receipts were preserved.

From the experience of owning the “fourteenth”, Oleg emphasized that when buying this car it is necessary to pay attention to the integrity of the body. The body is the weak point of this Lada model, so you can still struggle with it.

Source

Troubleshooting

Air filter

The first thing you should check when you notice high engine speeds at idle in a VAZ 2114 is the air filter. When it becomes dirty, it begins to pass air poorly, as a result of which the working mixture entering the engine becomes over-enriched and causes an increase in speed. To get rid of this problem, simply replace the filter with a new one.

Air filter VAZ 2114

Since the performance of the engine directly depends on the condition of the air filter, it is recommended to periodically check its condition without waiting for severe clogging.

Throttle position sensor

If this does not help, then you should move on to checking the sensors, namely the throttle position sensor, since it most often fails. To do this, you need to measure the voltage at its contacts at idle speed (the voltage value should be close to zero).

Throttle position sensor VAZ-2114

If it turns out that voltage close to normal in the on-board network constantly passes through the sensor, it means that acidification has occurred in it, and cleaning should be performed.

To do this you need:

1. Disconnect the wires from the sensor terminals.
2. Unscrew the pair of mounting screws holding its body.
3. Fill the internal cavity with WD-40 or a similar penetrating lubricant.
4. Turn the sensor wheel using a screwdriver or thin blade.
5. Reinstall the device.

Idle speed sensor

If the reason was precisely the gas sensor, then the idle speed should immediately return to normal. If this does not happen, then you should proceed to cleaning the idle speed sensor (since it also often oxidizes and fails).

Idle speed sensor VAZ 2114

This operation is performed as follows:

1. Disconnect the wiring and dismantle the device by unscrewing the mounting screws (the sensor itself is located not far from the throttle valve, opposite its cable).
2. Connect the wires to the device and turn on the ignition. If the moving needle of the sensor moves slightly inside the housing, then it is working; if not, the sensor is soured and requires cleaning.
3. Wipe the entire surface of the sensor with WD-40 or purified gasoline, removing all traces of oxides, oil and other contaminants.
4. Mount the sensor in place, start the engine and check its operation.

The most convenient tool for cleaning the idle speed sensor is a small toothbrush - it allows you to completely clean the device without damaging it.

If after cleaning it turns out that the speed is still too high and the sensor does not work normally, then it should be replaced with a new one of a similar model.

Mass air flow sensor

In the case when all the previous operations did not help, and the VAZ 2114 still has high idle speeds, you should check the mass air flow sensor.

This is quite simple to do - you just need to disconnect the wires coming to it, then start the car and drive it for some distance at a crankshaft speed of more than 2,000 per minute. If at the same time it “feels” like the car has begun to behave more dynamically than a car with a connected sensor, then the cause of the malfunction will become more than obvious.

DMRV VAZ 2114

To eliminate it, you will need to dismantle the sensor and replace it with a new one, since, unlike previous sensors, this one is practically irreparable.

It is replaced like this:

1. Disconnect the wires leading to the contacts of the air flow sensor.
2. Loosen the hose clamp on the inlet pipe.
3. Remove the hose from the pipe.
4. Remove the damaged sensor.
5. Install a new device by performing all operations in reverse order.

To check the effectiveness of the repair, just start the engine and look at the idle speed - if they return to normal, then the problem is solved.

What do you need to know if you want to buy a Lada Granta or VAZ-2114 on the secondary market?

Buying a used car on the secondary market is akin to completing a quest, playing hide and seek, or, as they say, going through thick and thin. We have already told you what needs to be done so that our purchase on the used car market does not become a disappointment for us. Now we want to draw attention to used cars that are popular on the Russian market: Lada Granta and VAZ-2114. We have collected important information about these cars so that you can highlight their pros and cons for yourself.

Before we begin our review of used cars that are in demand on the secondary market, please note that all information has been collected for informational purposes and is not a guide to action, and we are not trying to persuade you to purchase a particular car presented in the review. The choice, of course, is yours to make.

We also wanted to note that all the data is based on reviews of car owners who publish private reviews on various forums and Internet sites about the experience of owning a car, and reviews of servicemen (including those who work in official dealer service stations). We also took into account the opinion of garage auto repairmen, whose experience and knowledge are sometimes even higher than those who work in well-known large auto repair centers.

In addition, you should know that the used car market in Russia is rapidly changing along with the new car market. Thus, market leaders have changed over the course of several years. Gradually, domestic automobile brands occupy leading positions in the Russian market, despite the people's love for foreign cars. But the reality is that people are forced to switch to domestic cars due to the fact that they simply cannot afford many foreign cars. Moreover, this happens both in the new and secondary car markets. Therefore, we decided to start with a review of domestic cars, and then continue with foreign cars.

Appearance

Despite the release of a newer model, there are not many differences between the VAZ-2114 and VAZ-2109 in terms of bodywork. The new product had:

• New front part of the body;
• New lens shape;
• New hood;
• Another radiator grille;
• Improved quality of plastic on bumpers;
• Spoiler;
• Moldings;
• Door sill covers.

One thing can be said frankly: the VAZ-2114 was very lucky due to the policy pursued by the manufacturing company. In fact, the pioneer in this series was the VAZ-2115 sedan, which, as practice has shown, was a real pancake.

Taking into account the mistakes made, the innovations developed for the 15th and the use of time-tested features of the 2109, it was possible to release a complete and one of the most successful vehicles in the history of AvtoVAZ - the Lada-2114. The weight of the car was 970 kilograms, and its carrying capacity was 425 kilograms. Ground clearance height – 160 mm.

After improvements in 2011, the ground clearance was increased by 5 millimeters. This was achieved thanks to the installation of racks from Lada Priora. Between the headlights there is a small radiator grille. This decision was made partly due to the fact that the engine does not need a large air flow for cooling. It is in this place that the handle for opening the hood is located, which is very practical.

The VAZ-2114 car has become much better than its predecessor in terms of appearance and interior design. The design turned out to be more streamlined and stylish.

The side part of the VAZ-2114 has external mirrors made in a rectangular shape. Thanks to this solution, the driver has better control of the situation on the road. I would also like to mention the doors of the 14th model. They have a special opening mechanism, which makes boarding and disembarking passengers more comfortable.

According to statements by AvtoVAZ designers, the door opening angle is almost 90 percent. Not every car can boast such characteristics to improve the level of comfort for its passengers and owner. The five-door model comes with 13-inch wheels, which, if desired, can be replaced with more massive ones.

The rear part was completed with an eye to new ideas and solutions. The stern of the VA-2114 has modified headlights, which received 3 signals: stop, reverse and turn signals. This element is very practical and interesting. Moreover, this solution saves a little space. Almost all automobile concerns use similar technologies.

In general, the appearance of the VAZ-2114 has become more pleasant, modern and not so sharp compared to the VAZ-2109. A stylish body kit along the entire edge of the car added some zest to the appearance. It's nice that the bumpers are now painted to match the body color. The exterior of the new product was equipped with sporty features: the headlights narrowed, the shape of the hood changed, and the body became more streamlined.

The aerodynamic performance was initially identical to that of the 2115 model. However, later, the drag coefficient of the updated Lada-2114 was even lower - 0.45 versus 0.46 for the “standard” 2109. But the balance of lift forces changed seriously: the total lift force increased slightly, but it was now distributed evenly across the axes. Due to such improvements, the quality of driving at high speeds improves.

A small feature of the Lada 2114 car is the installed spoiler, which allows you to increase road grip, as well as the dynamic data of the car. It’s doubly nice that such an element comes already in the basic version from the factory.

What to look for when buying a used Lada Granta

It is clear that if you are going to buy this used Russian car, then most likely your budget leaves much to be desired. Unfortunately, despite the fact that this is a good car for the money, in most cases this model is not purchased for a good life.

Naturally, when money is limited, then buying a Lada Granta on the secondary market is akin to walking through a minefield. After all, in the event of an unsuccessful purchase, it will be doubly offensive to spend money and receive a problematic car that requires large investments. How can this be avoided? What should you pay attention to?

Firstly, let us remind you that the Lada Granta recently underwent a restyling (update), receiving a fresher appearance. This, naturally, led to the fact that pre-restyling models became slightly cheaper on the secondary market and will become even cheaper as restyled models hit the secondary market.

We advise you to look for a car with a liftback body, since this way there is less risk of running into a taxi car with low mileage. This Granta body is rarely used in taxi fleets.

Body

The biggest headache for any Lada Granta owner is, of course, body corrosion, which does not spare any car. Unfortunately, no matter how hard AvtoVAZ tried, they could not overcome the rapid rusting of cars. For example, samples of cars from 2014-2015, judging by reviews on the Internet, showed signs of rust already in the first year of owning a new car.

Motor

According to service technicians, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the complex 16-valve engine, which, although improved compared to the old indestructible 8-valve engines, still has a number of problems due to the complexity of the design.

First, be sure to measure compression during inspection. In no case should it be less than 11 bar. Ideally it should be 12 bar. The difference between the cylinders should not be more than 0.5-0.6 bar.

Signs of an attempt to deceive

The main signs that they are trying to “smuggle firewood” into the buyer are:

• Reduced price;
• Excessive “lip painting” on the car;
• Obstructing by any means a normal and comprehensive inspection of the vehicle;
• Diagnostic failure at a service station;
• Attempts to reduce the scale of the problem (something like “yes, I turned it off for such and such a reason, but if you connect it back, it will work”);
• Easy price flexibility;

If all this is noticed during inspection, then it is better to look for a car to purchase from other sellers.

As a result, we note that all of these measures do not guarantee a successful purchase, since in this matter much depends on which seller you come across, but they at least reduce the likelihood of purchasing a problem car.

Transmission

Also, when inspecting, pay attention to the transmission, which during a test drive should operate without any extraneous sounds or grinding noises. Place special emphasis on reverse gear, which should engage without a crash.

Check whether the clutch pedal is fully depressed. Be sure to pay attention to the operation of the gearbox synchronizers when moving forward, especially in 2nd gear, which most often wears out on these cars (second gear synchronizer).

Suspension

The suspension of the Lada Granta is quite reliable and durable (what else is needed on Russian roads?). Nevertheless, you shouldn’t expect any outstanding mileage from it, like, for example, on Toyota cars. Also keep in mind that the suspension of the Lada Granta is quite stiff and noisy.

There are also complaints about the front struts, which become noisy even with low mileage.

Increased consumption in idle mode

Typically, normal gasoline consumption when the engine is idling is 0.8-1 liter per hour. If these indicators are not exceeded, it means that everything is fine with the system. If consumption is increased, then it is worth checking the same sensors. However, special attention should be paid to the idle speed sensor, which automatically regulates idle speed. It is located on the throttle assembly and is secured with a pair of screws. The device does not have an electronic system, so its breakdown will not be displayed on the dashboard in the form of a “check”. You can judge its malfunction only by certain signs:

1. Lack of high speed when starting a cold engine.
2. The engine stalls when idling. This may even occur during gear changes.
3. “Floating” idle speed.

Electrics

The owners of this car are very fond of “tuning” the car by installing amplifiers, amplifiers, LED bulbs, alarms, etc. Unfortunately, very often they do all this on their own. Sometimes it’s wrong, damaging the car’s single electrical circuit, which already tends to fail.

So it would be a good idea to check the car’s electrical system before purchasing.

Minuses

With frequent active driving, the gears “die” and the gearshift lever simply stops locking in the selected position. There is also a defect in the gearbox gears, which fall apart.

Gearbox howl, which AvtoVAZ engineers could not eliminate

Poor directional stability (the car starts to roll along the road at speed)

Body corrosion

Bottom line. As we have already said, when choosing a used Lada Granta, pay attention to all the important components of the car. It is advisable that the mileage of the car does not exceed 85 thousand km (honest). Also check the car in the taxi database. And, of course, before giving the buyer money, do a comprehensive diagnostic of the car. Never buy a car based on its appearance unless you want to buy a pig in a poke.

What to look for when buying a used VAZ-2114 Lada Samara

At the end of 2013, a historical event took place in Russia - the last VAZ-2114 (Lada Samara-2) rolled off the AvtoVAZ assembly line. It was replaced by the modern Lada Granta. In general, the family of all-wheel drive cars of the Lada Samara series has been produced on the domestic market for more than 30 years.

Let us recall that the Lada Samara-2 VAZ-2114 replaced the VAZ-2109, which was produced since 1987. VAZ-2114 debuted on the market in 1998.

It is worth noting that with the change of generations, a technical revolution did not occur. In principle, purely technically, the VAZ-2114 is the same VAZ-2109, with the exception of a new steering rack and front brakes, which the 14th received from the VAZ-2110. The car also received a 1.5-liter engine with distributed fuel injection and an upgraded manual transmission. Everything else is the usual external and internal restyling.

The starter turns, but the car does not start

This is the most common situation if the passage is from a VAZ 2114. The procedure for solving it must begin with answering the question of whether there is a spark. To do this, take an assistant, unscrew one spark plug, put an armor wire on it and very carefully (avoid touching live parts, hold the insulated part of the wire) apply the spark plug to the cylinder head cover. While the assistant turns the engine, watch the behavior of the spark plug. If there is no spark, you need to look for it.

If there's 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).

KEY-DOP

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.

Motor

Initially, the VAZ-2114 received a 1.5-liter 8-valve engine. In 2007, it was replaced by a 1.6-liter eight-valve engine with a similar design. The advantage of these engines is that if for some reason the timing belt breaks, the engine valves do not meet the pistons. And this is important, since timing belt breakage on this model is not uncommon. Moreover, even with a short mileage after replacing the belt.

The engines are quite reliable and can run up to 350-400 thousand km without problems. By the way, do not be alarmed by the knocking of valves when the engine is running. This sound exists even with absolutely serviceable engines. The culprit is the valve tappets, which sit too high in their seats. Damn, design feature. By the way, this engine requires scheduled valve adjustment every 45 thousand km. However, in practice, most car owners do not do this. Unfortunately, despite the reliability of the motor, due to the nature of the cooling system, engines are prone to overheating.

If the car is equipped with HBO

Some owners install gas equipment on their VAZ. If a fourth generation system is installed, it will definitely interact with the engine electronic unit. If the pressure in the gas line drops or the gearbox malfunctions, a yellow lamp may light up on the panel. It is recommended to carry out further diagnostics at a specialized service station.

We also note that cars with gas equipment have their own “check”, a gas filter. Sometimes they forget to change it. The recommended replacement interval is 30 thousand kilometers. In many ways, the condition of this filter depends on the quality of the gas being charged.

Box

The weakest link of the manual transmission is the domestic clutch kit. Therefore, if you don’t want headaches, buy foreign analogues.

Don't be alarmed by the loud noise of the 5-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, the manufacturing quality of the gears and synchronizers of the VAZ-2114 gearbox was not very good; they howled even on new cars. As on the Lada Grant, wear of the second gear (synchronizers) occurs most quickly in the gearbox.

Service technicians advise regularly monitoring the oil level in the gearbox and, if there is a shortage of oil, adding even more than the nominal value.

REAL PETROL CONSUMPTION ON VAZ MODELS

Real fuel consumption on the VAZ 2114 (as well as on the VAZ 2113 and 2115) often differs from the factory values. Mainly differs in the direction of increase. Of course, a lot depends on weather conditions. In winter, due to long and frequent warm-ups of the car, gasoline consumption increases, and other factors also influence fuel consumption:

• Driving style. Driving with sudden acceleration and high speed does not save fuel;
• Various malfunctions: in the engine, in the ignition system, in the fuel system, etc.;
• Unregulated tire pressure;
• Driving on a cold engine;
• Fuel quality.

It is necessary to take into account that the fuel consumption of the VAZ 2115 (2113) is practically no different from the gasoline consumption of the 2114 model, since the cars have very similar characteristics and are equipped with exactly the same engines.

Suspension

The suspension of the VAZ-2114 is the same chassis that you will find in the VAZ-2109. So the more modern VAZ-2114 has a certain reliability of the “nine” suspension. But, unfortunately, at the same time, the 14th model also adopted all the childhood sores of the chassis due to design features.

For example, in the VAZ-2114, as in the VAZ-2109, it is still not uncommon for rubber to peel off from the upper shock absorber mounts. Also, do not expect reliability from the aluminum brace brackets, which will burst very quickly from impacts. Fortunately, the supports are usually replaced with imported analogues, which, fortunately, are abundant on the market. Also, instead of aluminum brackets, you can install steel ones. In principle, these are all common problems with the VAZ-2114 chassis. There are no complaints about the ball ones. They travel 80-100 thousand km without any problems. Yes, of course, the original shock absorbers on a VAZ-2114 can leak quite quickly. But they can be replaced with imported analogues, and you will forget about this problem.

The steering rack usually runs 60 thousand km without any problems. Then the knocking starts. But this is usually solved by tightening the steering rack adjusting nut, and you will forget about the steering until 100 thousand km, where you will have to change the steering rods.

Lambda probe

One of the first and most important sensors, the operation of which can affect increased gasoline consumption, is the lambda probe. It is located on the exhaust pipe, and its main task is to assess the condition of the exhaust gases. Based on the oxygen content in the exhaust, the system regulates the volume of the working mixture. Accordingly, if the sensor malfunctions, the system will not be able to accurately regulate the working mixture that needs to be supplied to the combustion chambers. This may increase consumption.

However, if the sensor breaks down, the system warns the driver about this with a “Check” light on the dashboard. You can also see the error using the on-board computer. Often this sensor breaks down due to poor quality gasoline, oil getting into the combustion chamber, or valve clamping.

Electrics

Here, too, the VAZ-2114 took away all the sores from the VAZ-2109. Also, the condition of the car’s electrical system determines how the owner treated the car. If he got into the electrics, connecting various electrical equipment, doing everything unprofessionally, then by buying such a car, you risk getting a whole bunch of electrical problems, headaches and dooming yourself to huge expenses. So when inspecting the car, be sure to diagnose all electrical equipment. And don’t mess with a car that has undergone electrical tuning.

Catalyst

If the car's mileage is less than 100 thousand kilometers, most likely it still has a catalyst. By this time, it may already become clogged and not perform its direct function. Inside the catalyst there are small honeycombs on which carbon deposits accumulate over time. As a result, the gases cannot leave the combustion chamber normally, and the engine “suffocates.”

What is the solution to this problem? It's simple: instead of a standard catalyst, a flame arrester or just a straight pipe is installed. Another, most cost-effective solution is to remove the ceramic core of the catalyst mechanically. Access is provided after opening the case with a grinder, after which the hole is welded. This will not harm the engine. The maximum that will change is the smell of exhaust gases and their toxicity. But since we do not yet control any environmental standards, owners of used VAZs and foreign cars are completely getting rid of catalysts. The cost of a new element is more than 20 thousand rubles, and they are almost out of stock.