Reasons for rough engine idling in a Chevrolet Niva. Their decisions

Diagnostics of engine condition by the appearance of Chevrolet Niva spark plugs

Normal candle.
Brown or grayish-yellowish color and slight wear on the electrodes. Accurate thermal value for engine and operating conditions. Soot deposits. Dry soot deposits on the Niva Chevrolet spark plug indicate a rich air-fuel mixture or late ignition. Causes misfire, difficult engine starting and unstable engine operation. Check if the air filter is clogged and if the coolant and incoming air temperature sensors are working properly.

Oil deposits. Oily electrodes and spark plug insulator. The reason is oil getting into the combustion chamber. Oil enters the combustion chamber through valve guides or piston rings. Causes difficult starting, cylinder misfires and jerking of the running engine. The cylinder head and piston group of the engine need to be repaired. Replace the Niva Chevrolet spark plugs.

Overheat. The reasons may be: the type of spark plug does not match the one recommended for your car’s engine, early ignition, lean mixture, air leaks into the intake manifold. Check the coolant level and whether the radiator is clogged.

Early ignition Niva Chevrolet. Melted electrodes. The insulator is white, but may be contaminated due to missed sparks and deposits from the combustion chamber falling on it. May cause engine damage. It is necessary to check the correct type of spark plug, serviceability of the knock sensor, cleanliness of the injector nozzles and fuel filter, operation of the cooling and lubrication systems.

Glaze. The insulator is yellowish, covered with glaze. Indicates that the temperature in the combustion chamber suddenly rises during sudden acceleration of the vehicle. Normal deposits become conductive. Causes misfires at high speeds.

Bridge between spark plug electrodes. Deposits from the combustion chamber fall between the electrodes. “Heavy” deposits collect in the gap between the electrodes and form a bridge. The spark plug stops working and the cylinder stops working. Identify the faulty spark plug and remove deposits between the electrodes.

Ash deposits. Light brown deposits on Chevy Niva spark plugs, covering the central and side electrodes with a crust. Isolated from additives to oil or gasoline. A large number of them can lead to insulation of the spark plug electrodes, causing misfires and interruptions during acceleration.

Wear. Rounded electrodes with a small amount of deposits on the working ends. Normal color. Causes difficult starting in cold or wet weather and poor fuel economy. Replace the spark plugs with new ones of the same specifications.

Detonation. The insulator may be cracked or chipped. This may damage the piston. Make sure that the octane number of gasoline matches the required one. Check the serviceability of the Niva Chevrolet knock sensor.

Spotted deposits. After proper adjustment, carbon deposits deposited in the combustion chamber begin to burn out and, at high engine speeds, come off the piston and stick to the spark plug insulator, causing occasional misfires in its operation. Replace the spark plugs with new ones or clean the old ones.

Mechanical damage. Damage can be caused by foreign objects getting into the combustion chamber, and if you use a spark plug that is too long, its electrodes can catch on the piston. This causes spark plug destruction, cylinder shutdown and can damage the piston. Remove the foreign object from the cylinder and/or replace the spark plug.

Other features of the Chevrolet NIVA internal combustion engine

NIVA2123 has a different motor compartment and a different bridge beam. The gearbox designed for front-wheel drive is not attached to the power unit. Because of this, the sump of the VAZ 2123 engine has a different shape, and the engine mounting supports have a different design than the VAZ 21214 prototype.

The NIVA Chevrolet internal combustion engine has a different air intake system. The air filter size on the new engine has been increased. The dimensions of the intake pipe, receiver and throttle pipe have also been increased.

The motor is controlled by the BOSCH MP7.9.7 ECU or the Russian JANUARY 7.2. On internal combustion engines that comply with Euro 2, a pairwise parallel fuel injection system is used. For internal combustion engines, where Euro 3 requirements must be met, phased fuel injection is used. It provides precise dosage of fuel to a specific cylinder.

The new internal combustion engine has an original fuel rail. It is marked 2123-1144010-11. SIEMENS fuel injectors are used; BOSCH injectors were installed on the first models. The ignition module is used from a VAZ 2112.

Niva with turbine

The most common way to add power to an engine is to install a turbine or compressor, which will significantly increase the volume of air entering the power plant.

Installing a turbine is not a complex tuning solution, since the turbine itself has a fairly simple structure. The supercharger and turbine impellers are mounted on the same shaft, and the exhaust gases are the drive. Thus, we can observe the most efficient use of energy from combustion products in a car. The absence of interaction between the crankshaft and the turbine shaft also increases the efficiency of the power plant.

In general, the Niva engine can and should be modified, and then your car will become more powerful and last much longer. This is what we should strive for!

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Problem solving

Therefore, you need to find the reason why the engine is not working correctly and fix it as quickly as possible. In order to understand what exactly has gone wrong, you need to start the engine at idle and listen to how it works; if regular popping sounds are heard from the exhaust system, this indicates that there are problems with the operation of one of the cylinders. This may be due to several reasons:

1. No spark to spark plugs
2. The injector may have failed
3. Low compression in one of the cylinders, or there is a strong air leak into it

If the popping does not appear evenly, you can try replacing all existing spark plugs, even if they seem normal. If popping noises occur regularly, you should turn off the engine and open the hood, and check the condition of all existing ignition wires; they should not have any damage or oxidation of the tips.

To check the condition of the spark plugs, you need to remove the wire ends and unscrew the spark plugs with a special wrench. Check what condition they are in, if they look good, then put them in place, the main thing is that they are absolutely dry, if there are any drips, you can throw them away, also check what kind of gap they have, it should be from zero eight to zero nine millimeters.

If the engine does not operate smoothly at idle, you need to check the spark at the spark plugs. You can do this in the following way

1. We take the spark plug, fix it on the engine so that the thread is on the body
2. We connect the wire from the first cylinder to the spark plug, start the engine, if the interruption does not get worse, replace the spark plug with a new part. If after replacement there is an increase in interruptions, then it is necessary to check all the cylinders sequentially to understand which spark plug is faulty.

If, after following all the above recommendations, the problem remains, then you should contact a specialized car service center, where they will measure the engine compression. If the compression readings are more than one MPa, this is considered normal; if the reading is more than zero one MPa in one of the cylinders, then the engine needs to be repaired.

If during diagnostics a malfunction of the third cylinder is detected, you need to remove the hose that connects the engine and the vacuum brake booster, and then plug the hole in the hose, then start the engine; if the problem goes away, then you need to diagnose and most likely replace the vacuum brake booster.

No compression

The most unpleasant reason is a decrease in compression in one of the cylinders.

This problem can only be identified and fixed in a professional workshop:

• valve burnout - the pressure decreases due to a leaky fit of the valve to the seat;
• failure of hydraulic compensators - when they jam, the valves can “hang”, which is why compression decreases;
• wear of the cylinder-piston group is determined by a special tool that measures the gap between the cylinder and piston rings.

You can anticipate the wear of the cylinder-piston group by the rapid oiling of the throttle valve and air filter after cleaning, and the characteristic blue smoke from the exhaust pipe.

Compression can only be restored in a specialized car service center that has the appropriate equipment. To decide whether you need to go to a specialist, it is better to measure the indicator in advance using a compression meter.

Weaknesses and malfunctions of the Chevrolet Niva

On the Internet you can find many “terrible” descriptions of problems and breakdowns of the Chevrolet Niva. For example, that already at 50,000 km, problems with the timing chain may begin, the starter may fail, the clutch will burn out, the transfer case will “snot”, through metal corrosion will begin, and so on. But in practice, as we see, you can find a huge number of Shnivas on the roads and in pretty good condition, and there is also considerable demand for the car aftermarket. And would people buy a “bucket of bolts” that needs to be constantly repaired and invest their hard-earned money into it? I think no. The Chevy Niva is actually a good SUV, and many problems about it are simply made up and exaggerated many times over.

Here I will describe what you should check before purchasing, what you should pay attention to, and what problems may arise. After all, you see, the same car can be in completely different states, depending on its owner and operating conditions.

Also interesting: Engine twitching at idle: causes of malfunction "

1) Corrosion. This is a really common disease of Shniv bodies, since only a part of the parts were galvanized at the factory, and even then of poor quality. Rust, even in 5-6 year old cars, can be found in the area of ​​chips - hood, fenders, side members. And the most problematic places remain the rear wings and arches.

Therefore, it is recommended to carry out additional anti-corrosion treatment for this vehicle. And it’s very cool if you come across such a copy, the previous owner of which has already treated the body with anticorrosive and installed fender liners.

2) Timing chain. On the Internet you can find stories where the chain jumped already at 60-80 thousand kilometers and had to be changed. In practice, this disease does not occur on every car, but this cannot be denied. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically monitor the condition of the chain, and usually replacing the chain tensioner and pump solves this problem.

For example, a friend’s Chevy Niva already has 110,000 km on it, and he hasn’t done anything to the chain. Everything works fine. But he says that with a mileage of about 150,000 km it will be necessary to change the chain, tensioner, and pump. And also change the hydraulic compensators.

When inspecting, listen to see if there are any extraneous noises in the engine operation.

3) Brake pads fail quite quickly. But this is a consumable material, especially since it is worth considering that this car is usually often used in off-road conditions - sand, water, all this quickly corrodes the pads.

4) When inspecting, check to see if the axle gearbox and transfer case are leaking. There is such a disease on Shnivy, but this nuance, again, does not occur on every car and may not appear until 150,000 km.

And it is also important that the transfer case and transfer case do not make too much noise when driving, otherwise you may end up having to completely replace these components. Or it will be enough to replace the clutch or the release bearing itself. A little noise is quite acceptable, because they cannot work absolutely without noise.

5) The factory 80-amp generator KZATE-80A lasts quite a long time, although some write that it fails even before 100,000 km. Some people change it to a more powerful one, for example, the 100-120 ampere KZATE-120A. But you shouldn’t touch it if there are no problems. In addition, you can go to an auto electrician and resolve the issue without a complete replacement.

6) As for shock absorber bushings, hubs, oil seals, silent blocks, bearings, their serviceability will depend on how and where the owner drove. If you didn’t skimp on the off-road, jumped on the pits, then of course the parts will wear out quickly, and if you moved at a moderate pace and treated them with care, then they will last about 80-100 or more thousand kilometers.

Ball joints have to be changed every 35-40 thousand km.

7) Expansion tanks on Nivas have a short lifespan, and in 80-100 thousand km you can change them three times.

The starter usually dies after 90,000 km, some earlier, some later. The cost of a good starter is 2500-3000 rubles.

9) The interior, naturally, does not feature super-high-quality finishing materials, and there is plenty of noise in it, but for the money it is quite tolerable. The weak point is the steering wheel upholstery, which peels off after 30,000 km. The solution is to install an overlay.

To summarize, I will say what is obvious to me. Chevy Niva is a decent SUV, more comfortable and roomy compared to the VAZ Niva. However, when buying it, you should understand that you will have to invest, but how much depends on the specific option. I meant a used car. I'm not saying anything about the new one. So when buying, inspect everything thoroughly, go to the service center, go to the lift, listen to the internal combustion engine, gearbox, manual transmission and everything else.

Corrosion - 2003 model. Usually, when a car has fender flaps, it is a sign that they are hiding rust.

Valve train chain

Chevrolet Niva transfer case leaking

The tank burst - usually due to temperature changes

covered the steering wheel

Description of the power unit

VAZ 2123 - the power unit installed on the Lada 4x4 is a modified, modified version of the engine of the 21214 model. This is the same four-cylinder gasoline engine, with a vertical arrangement of cylinders and an overhead shaft for distribution of the combustible mixture. The cylinder block is used from the VAZ 21213 model, but it has been modified and modified, so the markings on the engine are original. It is in the block that the main differences between the 2123 engine lie. On the new motor, the attachments are mounted differently, and the adaptation of the unit has significant differences.

The intake tract of the power unit has a different shape, and the engine supports are located differently. On model 21213, the supports are installed cantilever. And on the VAZ 2123 the supports are placed along the central line of gravity. The numbering of cylinders on a Lada 4×4 engine starts from the front of the engine, where the crankshaft pulley is located. Below, on the left side of the cylinder head, the numbering and order in which the cylinders operate is cast - 1, 3, 4, 2.

Power units produced before 2003 had the generator located at the bottom of the engine. On such motors, two belts were used to drive attachments. After 2003, the generator was moved to the left side of the internal combustion engine, to its upper part. These changes made it possible to use one belt to drive all attachments. Belt marking: 5РК1888.

On the BC 2123, the holes for attachments are placed differently than on the BC 21213. To secure the power steering pump, a special bracket was invented. The oil filter is attached through this bracket. On the previous model, the oil filter was screwed directly to the cylinder block.

The crankshaft and a group of pistons were taken from model 21213 and were not modified.

The BC head is used with the VAZ 21214. Its marking is 21214-1003015-30. It has a hole to allow installation of a sensor indicating the position of the camshaft. The design has the ability to install INA hydraulic compensators. The camshaft was borrowed from the 214 internal combustion engine model. The timing drive uses the same single-row chain. To tension the chain, a hydraulic tensioner is used.

The pump on the VAZ 2123 engine has an original design. The roller bearing installed inside the pump of the 2123 engine is more reliable than the ball bearing used on other VAZ models. The pump is usually the weak point. But the 2123 water pump, with roller bearings, fails much less often. The flywheel installed on the 2123 engine has a much larger diameter than the flywheel on the predecessor VAZ 21214.

Chevrolet Niva engine tuning

Before carrying out various actions on your car and changing its appearance, you should pay attention to the power unit. The engine undergoes tuning much more often than any other parts. Thanks to this operation, engine power can be significantly increased. You will achieve this result if you replace the factory pistons and camshaft in time. In addition, it is recommended to modify the gas distribution mechanism together with the valve system, as well as install a balanced flywheel.

And also interesting: Niva VAZ 21213 engine: characteristics, malfunctions and tuning || Niva 1996 engine

When changing all these spare parts, you should know when to stop. Some motorists replace the standard engine with a unit with a displacement of 5 liters. Experts believe that such an off-road vehicle burns a lot of fuel and also causes discomfort when driving.

Many have come to the conclusion that it is better to use a standard internal combustion engine, the working volume of which is up to 17,000 cubic cm. This is a fairly noticeable increase in power. This result can be achieved by replacing the pistons. When choosing these parts, you should choose products with a large diameter. Typically, tuned pistons are classified into two types: forged and cast.

A product made of reliable and durable material increases the service life of the pistons. However, experts refer to the fact to keep every detail in balance. If the center of gravity shifts relative to the piston pin axis, this can lead to tilt. At the same time, the walls are damaged much faster, compression decreases, etc. When choosing pistons for a Chevrolet Niva, you need to be careful.

More optimized ventilation of the Shevi Niva combustion chamber is achieved thanks to tuned valves that are T-shaped. If you properly treat the locking surface of tuned valves, you can achieve excellent sealing of the cylinder. With the help of the low mass of the plate, the specified temperature regime of the valve is maintained. It is important to note that the T-shaped valve almost never burns out.

An upgraded camshaft for tuning can be classified into three categories. Tuning the Chevrolet Niva engine will make you feel as safe as possible when driving off-road. In addition, it is important to maintain the driving pace if a lower gear is engaged. For this purpose, you will have to select the appropriate camshaft.

Important! Manufacturers produce various modifications of tuning shafts for Chevrolet Niva SUVs. Therefore, they have to be numbered in order to select the appropriate model.

When choosing a tuning kit for a gas distribution mechanism, pay attention to the availability of software firmware. Thus, in the future the Chevrolet Niva engine will operate correctly. You can contact a car service center where turbines will be installed.

Fan is faulty

This is the very first reason why the Niva engine may overheat. The phenomenon when the fan does not work is not uncommon, so you should look for the problem from this very reason. The Carlson may not work on the Niva for the following reasons:

• fan relay is faulty;
• resistor is faulty;
• electric motors are faulty;
• wiring problems - open circuit, short circuit, etc.;
• ECU malfunctions - incorrect firmware, hardware failure of the controller;

In this case, error P0480 may appear.

As a rule, overheating occurs during stops in traffic jams. When driving, the temperature is within normal limits.

Installing a turbine on a Chevrolet Niva engine

This type of Chevrolet Niva engine tuning will easily increase engine power by 30%! The price of a turbine for a Chevrolet Niva is about 67,000 rubles, including installation.

Installing a turbocharger allows you to increase engine torque at low and medium speeds. The turbine allows you to increase power, torque and makes the engine more economical.

Basically, the GARRETT GT17 turbocharger is excellent for Shniva, the characteristics of which meet all the requirements. After installing this turbocharger, the torque characteristics of the engine were significantly improved (an increase of 35% was found in the area of ​​low crankshaft speeds).

Shniva engine with turbine on bench tests showed:

• increase in engine power to 105 hp (factory engine – 80 hp);
• increase from 120 to 170 Nm of torque.

Thus, the improved power unit of the Chevrolet Niva allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h 5-6 seconds faster. Other features of the powerful engine have become available: you can install larger diameter wheels, drive off-road in fifth gear, and much more. The fuel can be used as before - 95 gasoline.

So, there are several worthwhile options for tuning the Chevy Niva engine, the main thing is to choose the best one for yourself in terms of monetary costs and in terms of installation complexity.

And then a video about modifications to the Chevrolet Niva engine:

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Alex S February 15, 2020

Published in: Useful tips and car devices, Russian cars

Tags: Chevrolet, SUVs, Jeeps, Tips for motorists, Tuning, SUV tuning

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Plus number 3. Passable comfort and good driving characteristics

All this became possible thanks to changes in the suspension, lengthening the wheelbase, comfortable seats, good visibility, the presence of power steering and air conditioning. Both on a straight line and in turns, the Shniva steadily holds its trajectory; permanent all-wheel drive helps on slippery surfaces, and potholes and potholes are overcome with due comfort without suspension breakdowns even at full speed. In the city, everything is a little worse - the wheel turning angles are quite modest, as is the turning radius, which affects maneuverability. This, among other things, limits the demand for SUVs among residents of large cities.