"Moskvich-2141": specifications, tuning, repair

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The Moskvich-2141 passenger car was a successful model of the Moscow AZLK automobile plant, but the difficult and long period of its development led to the fact that the passenger car was already obsolete and with weak power units on the conveyor. These two factors have become the main reasons for the low demand for M-2141.

Becoming a car factory

"Moskvich" - in the Soviet Union, this was the name not only for residents of the capital, but also for small cars produced by the Lenin Komsomol automobile plant. The construction of the AZLK plant began in 1929. A year later, the enterprise was opened and produced the first Ford cars of models A and AA. In the same year, the plant received its name - the Kim State Automobile Assembly Plant.

In 1933, the enterprise becomes a branch of GAZ and switches to the production of GAZ-AA cars. In 1945 the company became independent again. It produces its products under the name of the plant of small cars (MAMZ). The first small car with the name "Moskvich" was released in 1947, under the index 400, and the following yearthe first export deliveries of the car began.

Development and closure of AZLK

The development of MAMZ is associated with an increase in production and the release of new models of passenger cars. An important step was the development and production of the small car Moskvich-408, the millionth copy of which was produced in 1967. The following year saw a number of significant events:

• start construction of new assembly plant;
• release of the Moskvich-412 car, as well as modifications in station wagon and van bodies;
• the company has been given another name: Automotive Plant named after. Lenin Komsomol (AZLK).

In 1975, the next novelty was Moskvich-2140 - it was almost a refurbished model 412. The first front-wheel drive passenger car Moskvich 2141 was made in 1986, it was also the last for the plant. The production of the modernized Moskvich-2141-45 called Svyatogor was completed in 2002, and the AZLK plant was liquidated in 2010.

Difficulties in the development of M-2141

For the first time at the car factory, they began to create a front-wheel drive model, which was supposed to replace the M-412, in 1972, but work was suspended. It was decided to start serial production of "Moskvich-2140". Later, this decision was recognized as erroneous, since the production of an outdated model suspended the development of the enterprise.

Work on the production of a front-wheel drive subcompact continued only in 1976. The car received a five-door hatchback body and a rear-wheel drive layout. But it was decidedabandon rear-wheel drive and switch to progressive front-wheel drive, which once again extended the development period.

Another turn in the creation of the model occurred when an order was received to take the French subcompact Simka-1308 as a "donor". After a number of changes, alterations and refurbishments in 1986, Moskvich-2141 reached the assembly line. For comparison, "Simka-1308" was recognized as the car of the year in 1976.

Design M-2141

Despite the existence of a prototype, the designers of AZLK managed to create an almost individual appearance for the Moskvich-2141 car. The design of the car for the eighties of the last century was modern and cool. Smooth contours of the body looked very interesting, not a single sharp corner, a swift silhouette and a large area of glazing new items. Solidity and dynamism were given to the car:

• long hood with embossed stamping ribs;
• large wheel arches;
• large head optics;
• front stamping line running from the front fenders to the stern of the car;
• high-mounted stepped rear bumper;
• rear glass with a large slope;
• wide combined stern lights.

Against the backdrop of the domestic Zhiguli and Volga, the M-2141 looked like a foreign car.

Interior

By modern standards, even budget passenger cars, the Moskvich-2141 interior looks very poor and archaic. It manifests:

• large two-spoke steering wheel;
• minimal amount of information on the dashboard, equipped with a stepped protruding sunshield;
• simple front seats with dark headrests;
• door-mounted power window handles;
• rectangular heating and ventilation diffusers;
• with a small interior mirror.

For interior decoration were used: hard plastic, fabric, polyurethane foam. True, already in 1987, on special orders, they began to produce cars with velor trim and installed power windows for all windows of their own design.

Many car owners, in order to give comfort to the cabin, independently performed internal tuning of the Moskvich-2141. For this purpose, the following were used:

• steering wheel covers;
• enlarged mirrors;
• new seat headrests;
• soft flooring;
• changed interior decoration materials.

A large trunk was considered a feature of the car, which increased with the rear seats folded down to form a flat area.

Design features

Although the novelty was based on the French "Simka", factory designers moved away from direct copying. First of all, they used a longitudinal layout for the Moskvich-2141 engine located in front. Moreover, this was done for the UZAM and VAZ-2106 power units, which were traditionally installed on rear-wheel drive models. The longitudinal arrangement of the motor formed a good axial weight distribution of the small car, which made it possible to create additional dynamic parameters, improve climbing and increase cross-country ability.

The next feature of the car should be called a five-speed manual transmission, which was first installed on domestic passenger cars. In addition, the primary and secondary shafts in this gearbox are mounted in a single horizontal plane, which significantly increased the compactness of the entire power unit and, accordingly, lowered the hood line.

Special spars were used in the body frame, which served as a shock absorber in a frontal collision and increased the safety of the car. The rear suspension received special coil springs. Some motorists, especially those who use the car for country trips, installed springs with an increased number of turns as a technical tuning for Moskvich-2141 for greater reliability. The MacPherson strut was selected for the front suspension.

Despite the peculiarities, the design allowed for the repair of Moskvich-2141, as they say in the garage, which increased the attractiveness of the car for motorists.

Technical parameters

The novelty, along with an unusual appearance, had high-quality technical parameters. Moskvich-2141 has the following characteristics with the UZAM-331 engine:

• class – small;
• body type - hatchback;
• number of doors - 5;
• capacity - 5 people;
• wheelbase - 2.58 m;
• length - 4.35 m;
• height – 1, 40;
• width – 1.69 m;
• gross weight – 1.48 tons;
• ground clearance - 16.3 cm;
• engine model - UZAM-331;
• type - gasoline;
• mixture formation - carburetor (DAAZ 2140);
• cooling - liquid;
• number of cylinders – 4 pieces;
• number of valves – 8;
• cylinder arrangement - L-line;
• working volume - 1.48 l;
• power - 71.5 liters. p.;
• transmission - front-wheel drive, mechanical;
• gearbox - 5-speed manual transmission;
• max speed - 154.6 km/h;
• acceleration to 100 km/h - 17.9 sec;
• fuel consumption (combined) - 6.0 l/100km;
• fuel tank size - 55.0 l;
• fuel - gasoline AI-92;
• tire size - 165/80R14.

Parameters of other power units that were equipped with M-2141:

- Model VAZ-2106-70:

• type - petrol;
• volume – 1.57 l;
• power - 80 hp s.

- Model UZAM-3317:

• type - petrol;
• volume – 1, 70 l;
• power - 86 hp s.

- Model VAZ-21213:

• type - petrol;
• volume – 1, 70 l;
• power - 83 hp s.

- Model Ford-XLD418:

• type - diesel;
• volume – 1.75 l;
• power - 60 hp s.

- Model Renault-F3R:

• type - petrol;
• volume – 2.00 l;
• power - 113 hp s.

Domestic engines were more popular among car owners. Despite the outdated models, they reduced repair costs due to available spare parts for Moskvich-2141 in the event of a breakdown.

Maintenance and repair work

Initial repair and maintenance work for the owners was mainly due to the poor build quality of the car. Therefore, for the new car, almost all fasteners were broached, leaks and squeaks in various joints were eliminated, body and interior elements were adjusted. Window joints were additionally sealed to protect the interior from water.

The anti-corrosion treatment of metal elements of the car was especially carefully carried out due to the low quality of the paintwork. Despite this, very often the body of the M-2141, as car owners said, began to bloom in about a year. This is especially true for cars of the first years of production. Subsequently, the painting improved, but the corrosion problem was not completely eliminated.

For reliable operation, increase in service life, reduction in the number of repairs for Moskvich 2141, the following standardized maintenance intervals were established:

• TO-1 - 4000 km;
• TO-2 - 16000 km.

If the small car was constantly used in difficult conditions (trips on rural roads, for example), the mileage between MOT should be reduced by 10-20%.

Benefits andcar flaws

The main advantages of the new Moskvich-2141 were:

• front wheel drive;
• five-speed gearbox;
• interesting design;
• spacious trunk;
• affordable price:
• good cross.

In addition, if repairs were needed, spare parts for the Moskvich-2141 were not considered scarce, and the process itself, due to the design of the car, in most cases did not require high qualifications.

Among the shortcomings in their reviews, the owners noted:

• poor build quality;
• poor anti-corrosion properties;
• no power steering;
• low power units;
• poor sound insulation and waterproofing;
• location of the spare wheel under the bottom of the car;
• frequent breakdowns of electrical equipment;
• creaking in the cabin;
• poor visibility with stock exterior mirrors;
• high fuel consumption.

A large number of shortcomings, as well as the general economic situation, led to the fact that, along with the cessation of production of Moskvich-2141, the AZLK plant also ceased to exist.