Where is the starter relay located on the VAZ-2114? Possible breakdowns and their elimination

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

It is very possible to start a car engine without using an electric starter. To do this, you will need to either give a good push to the car, or ask someone to take you in tow. But, you must admit, there are not always passengers in the cabin with you who would help start the car from the “pusher”, and not every oncoming driver will agree to carry you.

Unfortunately, on domestically produced cars, problems with starting the engine occur everywhere. As far as the starter is concerned, it rarely fails itself. But the details that make it work often fail.

In this article we will talk about what a starter solenoid relay is and deal with its design using the VAZ-2114 as an example. In addition, we will consider its malfunctions, as well as possible malfunctions of other elements of the engine start system that have similar symptoms.

The design of the starting device and where the starter relay is located on the VAZ-2114

The "fourteenth" starter is a conventional DC motor,consisting of:

• body;
• four-pole armature (rotor);
• bendix (overrunning clutch);
• retractor (traction) relay.

The body of the device is closed with two covers. In the design of the electric motor, he is assigned the role of a stator. Inside it is a four-pole armature (shaft with windings), rotating around its horizontal axis. The shaft is supported by two support bearings located in the motor housing.

Bendix, or overrunning clutch, is a mechanism that engages the armature gear with the crankshaft flywheel ring. It is located at the front of the rotor.

Where is the starter relay located on the VAZ-2114? It is located right on top of it. Above. In fact, this is not an ordinary, in our view, device that closes contacts. It performs two functions at once. Closes the contacts of the armature winding, and also sets in motion the bendix with the gear.

Design of retractor

The starter solenoid consists of:

• steel case;
• ebony case cover;
• anchors;
• retracting and holding windings;
• rod with spring and contact disc.

Operation principle

When the ignition is off, the armature, thanks to the spring, is in the extended position. The bendix gear, however, is not engaged with the flywheel crown. When we turn the ignition key to the second position, voltage is applied to the relay contacts. The magnetic field generated by the pull-in coil leads toanchor action. It moves back, compressing the spring, and closes the contacts through which voltage is supplied to the starter. The retracting winding is turned off at this moment, and the holding winding is turned on.

During movement, the armature moves the fork along the rotor shaft. She, in turn, moves the bendix, introducing the gear into engagement with the flywheel. When we release the ignition key, the voltage to the holding coil stops flowing, and the armature returns to its original position under the influence of the spring. The fork, at the same time, disconnects the bendix gear and the flywheel ring.

Signs of a faulty retractor relay

Faulty traction relay can be identified by the following symptoms:

• when the ignition is turned on, there is no characteristic click that accompanies the movement of the armature of the device to the rearmost position (the starter does not turn, the engine does not start);
• click sounds but trigger doesn't fire;
• relay energizes, starter starts engine but does not disengage.

If you turn on the ignition and find that the engine does not start, and at the same time there is one of the listed signs of a malfunction of the starting device, try to find the problem yourself. In some cases, the failure may be on the surface, and it will take only a few minutes to fix it.

No click of retractor relay

The absence of a click may indicate that either there is no voltage applied to it, or there are problems with the retractorwinding. First of all, we check the wiring. To do this, visually examine the positive wire going to the relay from the battery, and then a thin conductor from the ignition switch. If possible, check the voltage with a voltmeter (multimeter) by connecting its positive probe to the terminal on the relay, the wire from which goes to the battery, and the negative one to ground. The device should show battery voltage. If this indicator is lower, you need to look for a problem in the wiring.

If the relay is energized, try to start the engine directly, without the ignition switch. To do this, disconnect the wire coming from it and close the relay contacts with a screwdriver (output to the battery and output to the starter). It worked? Deal with the contact group of the ignition switch.

There is a click, but the starter does not turn

If you clearly hear the relay click when you turn on the ignition, the problem is most likely in the starter itself. Perhaps the brushes are worn out, or there is a break in one of the windings. In any case, further diagnostics without dismantling the device is not possible. If a break in the windings is detected, the starting device can be tried to be restored by entrusting it to winding specialists. If things are generally bad with him, it is better to buy a new starter 2114. The price for it varies between 3700-5000 rubles.

Relay engages, starter cranks but does not disengage

In this case, the problem should be sought either in the relay windings or in its mechanics. It is possible to make an accurate diagnosis of the device only afterits dismantling. Most often, the cause of such a malfunction is a spring, which, due to its “fatigue”, is unable to push the anchor to the forward position.

How to replace the VAZ-2114 starter solenoid relay

Now let's move on to the process of dismantling and replacing the "fourteenth" traction relay. We immediately indicate that for this it is better to remove the starter assembly. So it will be possible to check the condition of its brush assembly and bearings in parallel. So, the relay replacement process is as follows:

1. Remove the negative terminal from the battery.
2. Disconnect the wires from the relay outputs and from the output of the starter brush assembly.
3. Unscrew the bolts securing the starter to the clutch housing. We remove it from the seat.
4. We turn off the coupling bolts of the relay.
5. Disconnect the relay from the starter, install a new one in its place.
6. Install in reverse order.

Other relay

With where the starter relay is located on the VAZ-2114 and how to replace it, we figured it out. But in the engine start system there is another part with the same name. Yes, yes, it is also called the "starter relay". Only extra. And its function is completely different. An additional starter relay serves to ensure the safety of the entire starting mechanism. Without it, brushes and armature windings would burn almost every start.

You again ask where the starter relay is located on the VAZ-2114? On the first models of the "fourteenth" it was located in the engine compartment at the top of the partition,separating the engine compartment and interior. On the new VAZ-2114 it is not there. And some "specialists" with foam at the mouth prove that it is not provided for at all on cars of the Samara-2 family.

In fact, there is an additional relay, but it is located under the steering column. It is enough to remove the lower part of the plastic casing, and you will immediately see it. This is a conventional four-pin relay marked 98.3777-10 that protects the starter circuit. If you have problems starting the power unit, do not be too lazy to check it too.