Not so long ago, a new era began in the Russian automobile industry. AvtoVAZ finally managed to equip a Russian car with an automatic transmission. The first attempt of the pen was Grant's fret, moving further and further from the usual, unchanging classics. It has technical characteristics increasingly similar to international standards.
When you see Granta, you immediately understand that this is a Russian car. The huge ground clearance, which some crossovers will envy, is perfect for overcoming our Russian roads. A huge trunk for four bags of potatoes, which was appreciated even by the President of Russia. Spacious interior, low price and, in principle, everything you expect from a modern car. Moreover, airbags, traction control and stability control systems, and electrical packages are becoming the norm in the Russian automobile industry.
Lada Granta car with automatic transmission
So, they started installing an automatic machine from Jatco on the Granta. The four-speed hydromechanical JF414E (AY-K3) from the Nissan subsidiary has already been installed on the Nissan Almera, March and other models, and for more than two decades. A fairly reliable hydraulic unit, a simple design without bells and whistles, time-tested, low price - it was not easy to find something similar among Europeans and Americans. The characteristics of the box are quite suitable even for modern cars.
And this is actually very good. Just 20 years ago, those same “Japanese” cars appeared, which a significant percentage of car owners in the eastern part of Russia still drive. It seems that our engineers’ alterations did not spoil anything; the box should last a long time and be resistant to aggressive use and typical mistakes of novice drivers. From 2016, the automatic machine will be available only in the Lux configuration; the remaining Grants will be equipped with a cheaper “robot”. The luxury version will be equipped with a higher-quality audio system, a different instrument panel, electrical accessories, electric power steering, and airbags. Optionally, the Luxury version can receive: ESC system, parking sensors, 15” alloy wheels, seat and belt adjustment, GLONASS system, heated driver’s window, side airbags. Not bad technical characteristics and a number of convenient subtleties compared to the VAZ 2106, for example.
Externally, the Lada Granta with automatic transmission is no different from its mechanized counterpart.
Lada Granta with manual transmission
But in fact - stiffer springs, lower ground clearance and slightly increased fuel consumption - the automatic unit weighs significantly more. For a 16 valve 98 horsepower engine, this automatic is even too “cool” and could withstand a more powerful engine.
Modifications of Lada Granta - types of gearboxes
| Equipment | Gearbox type |
| Lada Granta Sedan | |
| Standard | MT |
| Norm | AT/MT |
| Lux | AT/MT |
| Lada Granta Liftback | |
| Standard | M.T. |
| Classic | M.T. |
| Classic Optima | MT/AMT |
| Comfort | MT/AMT |
| Luxe | MT/AMT/AT |
| Luxe Prestige | M.T. |
A little history
In 1970, the Japanese Automatic Transmissin Company (Jatco) was founded and successfully produced automatic transmissions for Nissan and Mazda. Until 1999, it was part of the Nissan concern. For greater freedom in sales, Jatco management decided to take a step towards separation from the automaker. Since it was necessary to compete with only two automatic transmission manufacturers - Aisin from Toyota, and the German ZF, nothing threatened the further development of the company.
Today Jatco sells automatic transmissions at several hundred thousand a year. According to reviews, Jatco automatic machines easily compete among other manufacturers, producing budget but reliable products.
Immediately after being separated from Nissan, Jatco released a CVT, thereby winning first place in the world. Even such auto giants as BMW and Volkswagen began to use its products, successfully equipping cars with automatic transmissions and CVTs with a volume of up to 3.5 liters.
Automatic transmission background information
Jatco - four-speed automatic transmission with transverse arrangement. Factory index JF414. Installed on Lada Granta Sedan/Liftback cars.
Initially, the Jatco JF414 automatic machine was manufactured to equip the Japanese brands Nissan and Suzuki. Since 2013, the Zhatko automatic transmission has been equipped with the Chinese automobile brand March.
Salon
Explanation of the abbreviation JF414:
- J – Jatco;
- F - front-wheel drive;
- 4 — number of gears;
- 14 — ordinal modification index;
- E - electronic control.
Advice from experienced car owners and mechanics
Reviews of the Jatko automatic machine from most car owners are positive. For novice car enthusiasts, experienced drivers and repair specialists advise the following:
- When wiping the internal blocks of the automatic transmission, use lint-free cloths. It is also recommended to wipe the dipstick with a clean, thick, smooth cloth. Since fluff can get stuck in the throttle holes and damage the electronic control systems of the machine.
- When removing the oil filter cover, mark each bolt and its location with a felt-tip pen to avoid confusion. Because the bolts are of different lengths.
- It is not recommended to use an automatic transmission with a low oil level or, conversely, with a high one.
Reviews of Lada Granta automatic
| № | Positive |
| 1. | Vladimir: the transmission is functional, picks up from the bottom, picks up speed very quickly from the start at traffic lights. |
| 2. | Kirill: a vigorous start from a standing start, which is convenient and practical in megacities. Fuel consumption is 1.0 liter more than the mechanical type, but for me this is not significant. |
| 3. | Vyacheslav: the dynamics of picking up the lows is clearly noticeable on the machine. Unlike a number of other brands, including European ones, lethargy is not typical. |
| 4. | Ivan: The automatic transmission works quite smoothly, the moment of gear shifting is practically not felt. What is missing is sound insulation. Of course, it is present, but the thickness of the felt upholstery is not enough for complete silence. |
| 5. | Sergey: It’s very nice that when you sharply press the accelerator pedal, the “Kickdown” mode, the automatic transmission quickly shifts the gear to a lower position. You can feel the speed of transition when overtaking or sharp maneuvers. |
| 6. | Oleg: despite the lack of manual control in the automatic transmission, the manufacturer left manual control for the first two speeds. Very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, |
| 7. | Vyacheslav: the machine has a mechanical “Overdrive” button preinstalled; turning it off helps to operate the engine at higher speeds. This is very convenient and practical when overcoming road obstacles, snow drifts, and shallow fords. |
| Negative | |
| 1. | Alexander: despite numerous modifications to the Zhatko automatic transmission, vibrations and increased noise at speeds over 100 km/h are still present. This causes discomfort; the driver is forced to raise his voice so that passengers can hear him. |
| 2. | Ignat: a 16-valve engine is installed together with the automatic transmission, the maximum torque is set at the “top”. During rapid acceleration, the automatic transmission pulls the torque to the top, the tachometer needle borders on the red zone. At such moments, the roar of the engine in the cabin can be clearly heard. |
| 3. | Dmitry: during long climbs, the automatic transmission systematically shifts to lower gears, pushing the tachometer needle into the red zone. |
| 4. | Vasily: Unfortunately, Zhatko does not have a manual gear shift mode. This is very inconvenient if you frequently use the machine on rough terrain. Those who live on the periphery will understand me. |
| 5. | Vladimir: Zhatko’s gearbox is of the direct type. The “Drive” position is located third from the beginning. To move the selector to the “Drive” position, you need to take your attention away from the road. There is a preset indicator on the dashboard to indicate the current gear, but the display size is very small. |
| 6. | Victor: I don’t recommend this type of automatic transmission for the Lada Granta, as it’s already at 45,000 km. Replaced gaskets and solenoids. The torque converter clutches were also damaged. |
| 7. | Vasily: my sensors and the electrical ROM board of the automatic transmission “flyed”. The reason is a manufacturing defect. Fortunately, they replaced it free of charge under warranty. |
Related link:
Expert advice on replacing generator bearings on a Lada Grant
Features of automatic transmission maintenance
Jatco transmissions do not require close attention. They are easy to maintain.
Automatic transmission parts are similar to its relatives:
- RE4F03A;
- JF403E.
This makes it cheap to repair. The design characteristics are simplified as much as possible, since it is installed on budget cars.
The oil change in a Jatco automatic transmission can be done by the car owner himself or by specialists at service stations.
Checking the oil level and condition in the Jatco automatic transmission
You can use any lubricant for automobile automatic transmissions. In addition, analogues such as Dexron 6 can be poured into it.
Checking the presence of transmission fluid in the Jatco automatic transmission is done using a dipstick when the engine is warm. Some experts advise checking the level and condition of the oil using the overflow tube by removing the plug from the bottom of the pan.
After traveling 200 thousand kilometers, experts recommend installing an external fine filter. This is done in order to avoid small debris from entering the valve body, which appears due to wear of the clutches. Since the metal mesh, which is an internal filter, will not be able to contain these particles.
Read
Do-it-yourself oil change and automatic transmission repair U340E/U341E
Attention! It is recommended to do the first change of transmission fluid in JF414E automatic transmissions after driving 80 thousand kilometers. And the subsequent ones - after 60 thousand kilometers.
Replacing transmission fluid in a Jatco automatic transmission
If the owner decides to change the oil himself, then below are instructions on the correct procedure for changing the transmission fluid.
- Unscrew the transmission fluid drain plug “JF414E”.
- Place a container to drain and wait until the oil is drained.
- Remove sixteen pan mounting bolts.
- Using napkins, clean the inside of it from old oil.
- Remove the oil filter.
- Clean the filter element.
- Reassemble the pallet in the same sequence and put it in place.
- Pour 1.5 liters of transmission fluid into the place where the dipstick is inserted.
- Insert the dipstick. Start the engine.
- Drive the car until the oil warms up to 80 degrees Celsius.
- Drive onto a level area and check the level.
- If necessary, add oil.
Manual Transmission Background Information
The design of the Lada Granta manual transmission is nothing more than a modernized version of the manual transmission from the VAZ-2108. Until 2022, lever-type manual transmissions were installed. The new Lada Granta Sedan / Liftback (2018) is equipped with a cable gear shift mechanism.
Unlike the lever type, the cables are placed on top, which is convenient and practical when carrying out diagnostics and repairs. The shape of the clutch housing has also undergone changes and has become smaller in size. However, this did not affect the functionality of the manual transmission in any way.
Mechanics
What boxes were installed on different car models
The automatic version of the Lada Granta was launched in 2012. The robotic gearbox was developed in 2014, the first “Grant” with manual transmission appeared in 2015.
Robot
The 5-speed AMT VAZ-2182 can be found on Grants with 16-valve engines under the hood. The robot was installed on Granta on different body types in different years:
- sedan - since 2015;
- hatchback, station wagon, liftback - from 2022;
- "Cross" - from 2022.
Machine
The Japanese automatic is installed on Lada Granta varieties with a 16-valve engine in the body:
- sedan - since 2012;
- liftback - since 2014;
- hatchback, station wagon, “FL” - from 2022.
AvtoVAZ engineers sought to find a cheap and reliable automatic transmission. The Japanese development of Jatco – JF414E – was chosen. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the 4-speed with the domestic engine. The help of Austrian colleagues was needed. Through the joint efforts of AvtoVAZ and AVL engineers, it was possible to integrate Jatco into the Lada system and speed up the operation of the gearbox.
Owner reviews about Lada Granta mechanics
| № | Positive |
| 1. | Vyacheslav: in general, manual is better than automatic, especially for rough terrain. Poor quality road surfaces are not suitable for automatic transmissions. This is what became the key factor in choosing the type of transmission. |
| 2. | Sergey: I wanted to buy an automatic, but due to the peculiarities of the geographical area in which I live, a manual one is the only right solution. |
| 3. | Slavik: I’ve been familiar with mechanics for several decades now, I know the strengths and weaknesses, the machine is still a little damp. Let them improve it a little. |
| 4. | Vitaly: in bad weather conditions, it’s hard to find a better manual transmission. Despite the presence of a mechanical “Overdrive” button in the machine, it is not possible to fully control the engine. |
| 5. | Victor: I’ve been actively using the Granta for a year now, I have no complaints, the transmission works properly. I believe that it doesn’t matter what type of gearbox, the main thing is systematic maintenance and timely oil changes. |
| 6. | Volodya: I like the mechanical type of gearbox, it picks it up from the bottom, who knows, he will understand. If an emergency maneuver is necessary, you can always switch to a lower gear and complete overtaking. You can also do this automatically, but it will take much more time. |
| 7. | Vitya: for me, as a taxi driver, manual gearbox control is much more effective than automatic. In a metropolis, it is necessary to quickly respond to changes in traffic conditions; this will not work with an automatic transmission. |
| Negative | |
| 1. | Vasily: despite the efficiency of the manual transmission, one liter less, the automatic is much more practical and functional than its predecessor. |
| 2. | Dmitry: Japanese “Zhatko” is an ideal solution for the domestic VAZ. The transmission is very “smart”, it understands when to shift to a higher gear, and when, on the contrary, to engage a lower one. |
| 3. | Gennady: after 60,000 km, the synchronizers on my mechanics began to fall off, so I contacted the service center. The workmanship is poor, it is better to buy with an automatic. |
| 4. | Ivan: for a 16-valve engine, the mechanics are not enough, the gear ratio is not adjusted by the gearbox. Automatic transmission is essential. |
| 5. | Savely: I bought a Granta with mechanics, I thought I made the right choice, but it turns out I was wrong. The transmission failed at 70,000 km. |
| 6. | Vladislav: except for replacing the cable control levers, nothing has changed from the VAZ 2108. For that kind of money, it’s better to buy with an automatic transmission. |
| 7. | Kirill: I don’t recommend the mechanical type of transmission, it’s a weak box for such a powerful engine. |
Related link:
Replacing the ignition module on the Lada Grant. Tips from repair experts
Slightly updated interior
We have talked about the Granta salon more than once. There are not many changes in the updated version. The designers redesigned the instrument panel; as a result, the gearbox operation indication has moved and is now displayed above the fuel reserve scale. The shelf on the front panel on the passenger side disappeared from view. Now it is covered by the glove compartment lid. But for some reason the lid of the convenient drawer at the top of the panel is made of plastic in the wrong color, which causes slight irritation. A 12V socket took the place of the cigarette lighter.
There are also nice little things - three headrests in the back row, for example. They are not very high and do not interfere with the view to the rear through the interior mirror. There are hooks on the handles under the ceiling. There is a belt for the middle passenger with a well-thought-out fastening. True, it’s uncomfortable to sit in the back - the Granta remains a cramped car. Only a child or a miniature adult can fit behind the driver. There is a hum in the cabin, which, of course, is annoying. We can only hope that this is a feature of the Grant with its 98-horsepower engine.
Lada Granta automatic or manual, which is better?
Each of the above types of transmissions certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. Before purchasing a machine, clearly determine the type of geographic area where the machine will be used and the climatic conditions.
It has been verified that the automatic machine does not like frequent switching or start-stop modes. The solenoids wear out quickly and the torque converter clutch knocks. Since all automatic transmission parts are interconnected, prevention alone is not enough; a major overhaul is needed. It is expensive and time-consuming.
Mechanics are another matter. Despite the complaints addressed to it, the unit is quite working and functional. The final word belongs to the owner.
Signs of a Jatco automatic transmission failure
Frequent malfunctions of the Jatco automatic transmission are:
- oxidation of solenoid contacts. The latter quickly fail if the owner ignores the advice on installing an external filter;
- violation of wire insulation. The electrical part of the automatic transmission is afraid of voltage surges and therefore the electrical board often burns along with the wires if it is not properly “lit” from the battery;
- rupture of wires and connecting clamps.
The hydraulic unit may also fail. This happens mainly due to the fact that when changing the oil, the pan was not cleaned of old transmission fluid or low-quality cheap oil was filled in.
Read
Which is better and more reliable, CVT or automatic?
The main cause of oil leakage in a Jatco automatic transmission can be old rubber gaskets. Therefore, it is recommended to change oil seals and gaskets in a timely manner, preventing them from drying out or aging. Since this will cause the problem of low transmission fluid level. And oil starvation can damage the bushings.
