Chevrolet Niva: cooling system. Chevrolet Niva: cooling system device and possible malfunctions

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

Any car contains several basic systems, without the proper functioning of which all the benefits and pleasure of owning can be nullified. Among them: the engine power system, the exhaust system, the electrical system, and the engine cooling system. You can argue for a long time which of them is more important or more important and which should be given the main attention. In fact, each system and even a separate node needs care and guardianship. The easiest way to understand this is to draw an analogy between a car and a living organism. Run just one organ and you'll get into trouble.

This article will focus on the cooling system of the Chevrolet Niva car. Issues such as:

- structure and composition of the cooling system;

- weak points - what you should pay special attention to;

- prevention and inspection is the key to long-term operation of the entire device as a whole;

- optionsfaults and how to solve them effectively.

Structure and main components of the system

In order to have a good understanding of the system, it is enough to see its structure and components in front of you. Already only on the basis of a schematic drawing, you can draw up a picture of the work and see the weaknesses. The cooling system is no exception. "Chevrolet Niva" is represented by a closed, forcibly circulating structure.

As you can see from the figure, the system contains the following important components:

• radiator;
• cooling fans;
• thermostat;
• cooling pipes and stoves;
• fan pump;
• expansion tank;
• coolant temperature sensor.

Without the correct operation of any of these elements, the entire engine cooling system will be inefficient. Chevrolet Niva actually depends on these components.

Purpose and principle of operation

The car's engine experiences significant heat during operation. Inside the cylinders, the temperature of the gases reaches 2000 degrees Celsius. The cooling system is designed to relieve such thermal stress. To do this, the engine has a so-called water jacket - a system of channels through which the coolant passes. Forced circulation pushes heat out.

Pipes, pump, thermostat - that's the whole cooling system. Chevrolet Niva, whose antifreeze or antifreeze flow diagramshown in the figure above, cools quickly enough. This is provided by a water pump, which, in turn, is driven by a crankshaft pulley through a V-ribbed belt. On a cold engine (coolant temperature up to 78 ° C), the thermostat is closed, and circulation occurs in a “small circle”, bypassing the cooling radiator. In the "small circle", in addition to the engine jacket, the heater radiator and the throttle heating unit are required.

After the engine warms up, and hence the antifreeze (over 80 ° C), the thermostat opens, the coolant circulates through the main cooling radiator. The radiator has two vertical plastic tanks and an aluminum central part of the horizontal tubules. Antifreeze enters through the upper pipe into the right tank, and leaves the radiator through the outlet pipe from the left tank. There is also a drain plug from the radiator.

Control system

Electronics in the car dominates the elements of any system, and the cooling system is no exception. "Chevrolet Niva" has control of the antifreeze circulation circuit, based on the operation of the controller, the data to which are received from the temperature sensor, and the control unit. A casing with two twin fans is fixed on the cooling radiator. People call them "carlsons". Information about the excess temperature of antifreeze comes from a temperature sensor that is installed in the engine block. And already the control is carried out directly by the ECU (electronic control unit).

When a certain, programmatically set temperature rise, one right fan is turned on first, and then both and in enhanced mode. For different firmware of the control unit, the first fan turns on from 98°C, and both at once - from 100°C or 102°C. The enhanced mode of operation is turned off after the temperature drops to 93°C. There are options when only two fans work at the same time, which is not always convenient. This nuance is one of the weak links of the cooling system. Sometimes it is enough to reflash the ECU to achieve optimal fan operation, and everything is getting better.

Other parts of the cooling system

In addition to the main important components of the cooling system, such as a radiator, thermostat, water pump and a pair of fans, do not forget about the auxiliary elements. There are also pipes for the cooling system. "Chevrolet Niva" depends on these elements too. Sometimes a simple loose hose clamp can cause the coolant to overheat. And all because a leak will occur through a leaky connection.

The car's expansion tank has a plug with an inlet and outlet valve. The most interesting for us - exhaust - is designed to maintain the necessary pressure in the system. This is done so that at increased pressure, heating occurs faster, which means that the engine will quickly reach its operating temperature. In the event of a rapid rise in temperature (the thermostat sticks and does not have time to open), the valve in the tank cap works and relieves excess pressure.

Possible system malfunctionscooling

The engine cooling system must support the required temperature. The Chevrolet Niva can overheat quite quickly, and this almost always leads to the repair of the power unit. Therefore, it is important to prevent any possible problems in advance. Prevention comes first. What should I pay attention to first?

The weaknesses of the Chevrolet Niva include:

• expansion tank and its valve plug;
• water pump;
• electric radiator control system;
• thermostat;
• radiator;
• alternator belt;
• pipes of the system.

Malfunctions of the Chevrolet Niva cooling system are well studied. After all, this model has been in operation since 2002. By following the recommendations, almost all problems related to engine overheating can be avoided.

Expansion tank

It would seem, what could be the problem? A simple plastic product, but it is at the top of the list of weaknesses. The fact is that the quality of the material for the container leaves much to be desired. Regarding the cracked tank, many pages of the forums are covered with writing. It simply cannot withstand the operating pressure of the system. Of the most popular solutions to this problem, there are two.

The easiest option is to reduce the operating pressure. Yes, the engine will gain operating temperature more slowly than planned by the designers. As practice shows, a delay of several minutes is not critical, but a wholeexpansion tank is the reward for such a solution. At the same time, there are no material costs - the cork is pierced with an awl or it is not twisted to the end.

In the second version, the native expansion tank is changed. The most popular replacement is for analogues from the European concern VW. The shape and size for the Russian Kulibins do not matter. The main thing is that it is durable and does not crack. Material investments when replacing along with materials - approximately 500-700 rubles

A partial solution to the issue is achieved by replacing only the tank cap, designed for less pressure. This option turns out to be average in terms of costs, but the most difficult to find options.

Since 2013, the car manufacturer has also solved the problem by starting production of expansion tanks from a more reliable and high-quality material.

Water pump from Chevrolet Niva

What could be simpler: a pump and a cooling system. Chevrolet Niva guarantees competent work in the presence of high-quality components. But just the water pump here is the weak link. There are cases when this part literally turns into a consumable and changes as often as filters.

There can be several reasons for the failure of the pump. Most often, this is a small resource and poor-quality assembly. Fortunately, now there is a large selection of manufacturers, and you can choose the most durable part for yourself.

Self-replacement of the pump is not difficult. But, as in any work, there are nuances. Particular attention should be paidnecessary clearances during installation so that the drive belt is in the same plane with all attachment points.

Faults in electrical circuits

Among the main problems that can occur in the ECU chain are fans, this is banal wiring, as well as fuses. The fuses are the easiest to check. Then, if it doesn’t help, by “dialing” the problem in the wires is searched for. Sometimes the fan simply jams due to insufficient lubrication. This is checked mechanically on a muffled car. If the impeller turns tightly by hand, this is the reason.

Cooling system failure? "Chevrolet Niva" can stick in the antifreeze system due to the old firmware of the control unit. It is important that the fans turn on at the right time and turn off at the same time. Different firmware has different temperature control parameters programmed. Without fail, in case of problems with the fan, the switching relays are checked.

Thermostat and possible problems

The stable operation of the thermostat lies in the timely opening of the channel through which the coolant is directed to the radiator. If for some reason this does not happen, the antifreeze circulates only in a small circle and quickly enough heats the engine to critical temperatures. The thermostat will also not work. How can Niva Chevrolet behave in this case? The cooling system does not need air at all, because it forms a plug. A temperature-sensitive element is responsible for the effective operation of the thermostat. If it ceases to cope with its function -thermostat should be replaced.

It is recommended to test the new thermostat before installation for operability. This is done by heating water in a container with the thermostat turned down. When the opening temperature is reached, make sure that it works, and then, after cooling, it closes.

Chevrolet Niva Radiator

The native radiator on a car is a fairly reliable unit. In order to prevent it, it is recommended to clean and wash the outside. The aluminum radiator grille must not be clogged, as this significantly reduces the heat dissipation properties. You should also regularly inspect it for mechanical damage and leaks. With prolonged use of the car, it makes sense to flush the radiator channels internally. For this, there are special additives and ready-made solutions.

If there is a need for a replacement, it makes sense to think about the copper option. The heat dissipation properties of copper are better than aluminum, and the device as a whole will cool antifreeze much more efficiently.

As for the quality of antifreeze, do not forget to check its density with a hydrometer. This is especially true in winter driving. The cooling system may fail completely. Chevrolet Niva and possible malfunctions of its radiator should not spoil the mood. It is best to always have concentrate on hand. Then, in case of insufficient density of the coolant, it will be possible to correct everything.

Why the belt mattersgenerator

The alternator belt drives the pump through the crankshaft pulley. If it breaks, then, in addition to the fact that the generator stops charging the battery and powering all the electrical stuffing of the car, the pump also stops functioning. In this case, the engine has a high chance of overheating, because the circulation of antifreeze stops.

The entire cooling system depends on how the alternator belt is tensioned. "Chevrolet Niva" at low tension will work in the water pump assembly only in part of the power, due to pump slippage. All this leads to additional heating of the engine. Timely inspection and tightening of the belt will protect both you and your car.

Cooling pipes

How can coolant hoses affect the performance of a car? "Chevrolet Niva" in this is no different from other cars. Branch pipes require simple attention and timely tightening with clamps at all attachment points. The weak point is the connection of the exhaust pipe with the radiator. With excessive pressure, any poor-quality fastening can leak, which is unacceptable. Do not forget about the pipes in the heating system. They are less common than the engine compartment, but they can also leak. Like any rubber product, over time, hoses simply age and require timely replacement.

Conclusion

Summing up, it is worth noting that a competent cooling system has been designed in the car. Chevrolet Niva 2123, with proper care, remains operational for a long time. Enoughinspect in time and add coolant if necessary.