Owners of the “Nine” are often faced with a situation where the VAZ 2109 does not start. Is it possible to determine the cause of the breakdown yourself and do without a service station? If you master certain skills and knowledge of the engine starting system, then yes.
Lada may not start in different ways. First case: hard to start when cold. This implies an unclear start of the engine after the car has been parked for a long time. It happens when a VAZ stalls while driving, that is, it doesn’t start well when it’s hot. In addition, the “nine” was produced with both carburetor and injection engines. The differences in troubleshooting for these two units are significant. Let's find out how to look for the cause of failure for both versions of the power unit.
Possible factors
If the VAZ 2109 engine does not start well on the injector or carburetor. The engine seizes and instantly turns off or does not start at all. This may be a consequence of many factors. It’s worth starting with the most obvious faults.
Need to consider:
- The fact of supplying fuel to the engine;
- Charge the battery and its terminals;
- Presence of a spark in the candles;
- Air supply.
Malfunction of explosive wires
We check the wires, as they can also cause malfunctions. If the inside of the distributor cover is chipped and the contacts are scorched, then it needs to be replaced. After removing the slider, having first checked that the drum does not touch the Hall sensor, unscrew the bolts and disconnect the wiring and replace the sensor.
The wires on the distributor cover go in the following order (incorrect order of connecting the wires can also cause the car to not start):
- The first (it is marked on the cover) comes from the far left and also the first cylinder.
- Further, if you look clockwise, the second cylinder follows, and behind it the 4th.
- The far right wire comes from the third cylinder.
Under the casing there is a rubber timing belt. If the teeth (one of them) are worn down, and even more so if there is a tear on the belt itself, then replacement is needed.
If you still have questions about why your 9 won’t start, I recommend watching this video:
Ignition system diagnostics
VAZ 2109 does not start with a carburetor or injector.
The starter does not crank because there is a defect in the engine starting system. The main problems may be:
- Ignition switch;
- Breaker (distributor);
- Reel;
- Armored wires;
- Battery power cables.
First of all, you need to check the ignition switch.
Its structure is very primitive. Inside there is a group of contacts through which current is supplied when the key is turned. Power goes to the dashboard. The starter starts the power system. If the instrument panel does not light up or lights up but the starter does not crank, then it is necessary to check the ignition switch. Since it is almost pointless to repair it, the best solution would be to buy a new one. A new lock is not very expensive.
In another case, when the starter spins, it periodically seizes, but the VAZ 2109 does not start. There is no point in trying to start the car this way for a long time. Due to such manipulations, the battery may die. It is worth cranking the starter for 4-6 seconds with a break of one minute. The car may not start due to a defect in one or more high-voltage wires that run from the coil.
There are only 4 wires, 1 per cylinder. Sparks at the connection between spark plugs and wires may indicate a breakdown in the wires. This is clearly visible in the dark. There are white or blue sparks along the wire. In this situation, the wire must be replaced with a new one. High-voltage wires should be replaced every 40,000 - 50,000 km.
Next, you should check the distributor; it can often flood in the rain or after washing the engine. One drop of water on the ignition distributor is enough to prevent it from forming a spark for ignition. In order to prevent the distributor from flooding, you should not drive into puddles at high speed. And while washing the engine, it is worth covering the spark plug wells and all components of the ignition system.
The coil should be checked using a multimeter. Provided that there is only one coil in the VAZ 2109. If there is no current on it, this means that it is not capable of delivering the required current value. In the case when a VAZ 2109 has 2 coils, then with one faulty coil, the current will flow only through one coil. The engine will stall, but the car will function.
Alternative ways to start a car
If after one of the above operations the car starts, then be glad that you dealt with the breakdown yourself. If nothing helps, then you need to take the car for repairs. But you still have to get to the car service station, and in this case the “nine”, like all carburetor cars, is unique. A modern foreign car is nowhere without a battery, but a Zhiguli, if started from a pusher or pushed downhill, can go as long as it wants (the main thing is not to turn off the engine).
The process looks like this:
- The ignition turns on.
- We push the car so that it reaches a speed of at least 5 km/h.
- The clutch is depressed and third gear is engaged (of course, any gear will work, but 3rd is best for a “cold” start).
- The clutch is released and when, due to the inertia of the VAZ, its knees turn, the car will certainly start. Then the clutch is depressed and third gear is disengaged.
Battery diagnostics
If the car is parked for a long time, the battery loses charge and loses voltage. The voltage sags so that ignition simply does not occur. You can diagnose the battery using a multimeter.
To do this you need:
- Open the hood;
- Set the multimeter mode to measure voltage up to 20 V;
- Touch the multimeter probes to the battery contacts.
The voltage should be 12.6 V. If the output voltage is less than this value, then this indicates a problem with the battery. A desirable action would be to check the density of the electrolyte. It is worth checking absolutely all contacts. First of all, you need to check them with a multimeter on the starter.
In an urgent case, when the VAZ 2109 needs to be started and started immediately, you need to turn on the headlights, thereby increasing the voltage on the battery. This activates the battery electrolyte.
In the case when the VAZ 2109 does not start on the injector, even with a charged battery. The reason may be in its terminals. It is worth checking for oxidation on them. This is why the VAZ 2109 does not start on the injector. A white coating forms on the terminals; it needs to be cleaned off with sandpaper.
Useful tips
If you can’t start a carburetor engine, you should try the following:
- lift the hood and perform a visual inspection of the carburetor;
- Check the secure fastening of all terminals and wiring. After all, sometimes the problem is in a loose terminal, therefore, without checking it, the entire carburetor is subject to repair. Financial costs increase significantly;
- Sometimes the cause of poor starting of the car is overheating of the fuel pump. If it is too hot, it may soon fail, and it is better to purchase and install a new one;
- At the same time, it is necessary to evaluate the performance of oil filters.
Diagnostics of the fuel supply system to the engine
You should check the presence of the required amount of fuel in the gas tank. An insufficient amount of it can affect further diagnostics, since a small volume of gasoline will not allow the gas pump to receive the required amount. All diagnostics should be carried out with a full gas tank.
You need to pay attention to:
- Carburetor;
- Pump;
- Idle air valve;
- Oil.
You should start checking with the pump, as this is very easy to do. It is necessary to disconnect the fuel hose from the engine and turn the starter.
The pump operates if there is fuel supply. Diagnostics can be done without starting the engine. To do this, you need to press the lever on the pump itself. A few presses are enough to create the necessary pressure.
If gasoline does not begin to pump after pumping, the pump should be replaced with a new one. There is no particular point in restoring the pump, since this component has a low price. Around 500-1500 rub.
The next step will be diagnosing the carburetor. It is not possible to do this alone. Therefore, you should ask someone to help.
With the found assistant, you need to do the following:
- Remove the air filter cover;
- The assistant needs to look into the collector;
- Step on the gas and try to start the engine.
Gasoline must flow into the manifold. If everything is so, then the system is working properly. If not, then the carburetor is broken.
In this case, you need to clean the idle air valve on the carburetor. This valve looks like a “bar” and is located on the side. It must be unscrewed and checked for dirt. The valve must be cleaned with a needle or other thin object.
If a VAZ 2109 with a carburetor does not start the first time, then the defect is clearly in the carburetor jets.
For complete cleaning you will need a special liquid and a compressor. It is also necessary to correctly configure the carburetor itself. It is very difficult to do this yourself if you do not have the proper experience.
If the VAZ 2109 has an injector and the engine does not start, then the injectors should be checked. First of all, you should check the presence of power with a multimeter. To do this, you need to measure the voltage at the contacts that are connected to the injector. If there is no voltage, then it is necessary to check the cable.
If a VAZ 2109 does not start on an injector or carburetor in winter, then one of the reasons may be the thickening of the oil in the cylinders. Because of this, the compression force drops and the engine is unable to convert the mixture. In winter, oil flows down in the cylinder from top to bottom. And when trying to start the engine, fuel flows onto the cylinders from above, which dissolves the oil and washes it away from the cylinder walls.
Option
On the way, you notice that the engine does not pull. We stopped, pressed on the gas, but the speed grew slowly. We arrived home and turned off the engine. Then they tried to start again, but to no avail.
They installed exactly working sensors (DPKV, TPS), ignition coil, wires, spark plugs from another car. We replaced the diaper on the fuel pump, checked to see if there was a spark (there is one, but the spark plugs are wet), but the situation is the same.
If the timing marks match and the belt has not jumped a tooth, the exhaust system is normal, then most likely the crankshaft pulley has turned. Diagnostics will tell you for sure.
Diagnostics of contactless ignition system
Sometimes the VAZ 2109 does not start the first time.
The reason for this may probably be located in the ignition system. In recent years, cars have been equipped with a contactless system. Checking this system does not require any special tools. Everything can be purchased at your nearest auto supply store.
It is more rational to carry out diagnostics of the MD-1 sensor. It is connected to the place of the switch. Next, turn on the ignition.
Working with the sensor is very simple. It has three indicators:
- “P” – indicates the proper functioning of the ignition switch;
- “K” – shows the state of the primary winding;
- “D” – shows the proper operation of the hall sensors when the starter is turned on.
If all indicators work, then there are no malfunctions.
Does not start due to problems with the timing belt or piston group
If the timing belt has jumped a couple of teeth, the engine may no longer start because the ignition has gone wrong. In order to bring it back to life, it is necessary to set the timing according to the gas distribution marks.
The valves are clamped - there is also a possibility that it is for this reason that starting the engine has become difficult and, over time, even impossible. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the thermal clearances of the valves.
Weak compression is the case when difficult starting occurs every day, if the piston is already on the verge of complete decline. This occurs due to too much wear and tear on the piston group parts: rings, pistons and cylinders.
If there is anything to add to this list, don’t be shy - write in the comments to the article below.
Why doesn't the starter turn on the VAZ-2114?
A common cause of starter failure is the failure of the solenoid relay. This can be determined by a specific click heard from under the hood after turning the ignition key. An audible signal (click) indicates to the driver that the relay is turned on and the overrunning clutch does not have enough power to turn the crankshaft.
Important! This type of starter start is only suitable for cars with electronic ignition, in which the switch regulates the supplied voltage. In older ones, with a contact one, the coil may break when the starter closes.
The starter spins for a long time before starting
Circuit breakers
VAZ 2109 cars have a rather impractical location of the fuse box - between the windshield and the engine compartment. All dirt, dust and other deposits accumulate on this block.
If the lid is not sealed, moisture may get into the elements after rain, causing them to short out. The most basic one in our case is the fuel pump fuse. If it burns out, the fuel is unable to pass from the gas tank into the chamber. And no amount of “purging” will save you here. To avoid getting into such a ridiculous situation, experienced drivers are advised to always carry a set of new fuses with them.
Checking injectors and timing belt
When there is a spark and its color is bright bluish, check the fuel supply: turn out the injectors and turn the engine shaft with the starter. The fuel should be sprayed from the nozzle in a uniform cone-shaped “torch”. If instead the injector pours gasoline or splashes it, then it is clogged.
If the tested components are working, then look at the timing belt. Owners of the injection “nine” have more than once encountered the situation of the belt slipping by several teeth. In winter, this can happen when starting a cold engine when the camshaft rotates heavily. To check, look at the timing mark. If it matches, check the crankshaft sensor and its wire (sometimes it comes off). Then the remaining sensors are checked.
Candles
First of all, find out if there is a spark at all. The weakness of the latter allows you to start the engine while it remains hot, but it does not work when it is cold.
Unscrew the spark plug, place it against ground and crank the starter. If there is a spark, then there is probably a problem in the fuel system. We will tell you about it later.
It is necessary to do otherwise when the unscrewed spark plug works properly, but it turns out to be wet. Here you should check the timing belt. The latter sometimes jumps off, which disrupts the correct gas distribution and, accordingly, the VAZ engine does not want to start.
If you see that the spark plugs are filled with fuel, then perhaps this very circumstance is preventing you from starting the engine. Dry them with a burner or on a gas stove burner. When they turn out to be wet again during the next attempt, you will have to find out why this happened.
If there is no spark, the cause is sought further. It often lies in problems:
- crankshaft pulley or sensor that controls its position (DCPV);
- computer.
In most cases, the VAZ model 2109 injector does not want to start precisely because of the failure of the DPKV. Failure of other sensors does not prevent the engine from starting, it will simply not work correctly.
First, check whether the connector leading to it is intact and whether the wires are in good condition. It is the destruction or contamination of these elements that most often interferes with the normal operation of the DPKV, while the device itself is reliable.
To test the sensor, just hold a piece of metal close to it and measure the output voltage. It will fall if the piece of iron is taken away, and rise when it is brought close.
Another reason why a VAZ may not start is the crankshaft pulley. The disadvantage of this unit is that its teeth are partially made of rubber, which means they can come off or even scroll. This affects the sensor readings, and the computer, guided by them, does not want to supply voltage to the spark plugs. It’s not difficult to check - remove the casing from the timing belt (inspect it at the same time), and then examine the pulley.
There is a high probability that there is no spark due to a faulty ignition. First you should make sure that the connector leading to it is intact. Installing a known-good module on a Lada that does not want to start will allow you to confirm your suspicions.
