Kalina, cooling system: malfunctions and improvements

The Lada Kalina cooling system is one of the most important car systems. Due to its importance, SOD should not have malfunctions. If the cooling system is air-tight, Kalina will simply overheat, and this is a very significant factor affecting the operation and functionality of the internal combustion engine as a whole.

However, we will not disclose the topic in advance - we will talk about all the details, malfunctions and ways to improve SOD during our today's article.

Features

Practically on all cars of the VAZ family, including on passenger cars of the Kalina model, the cooling system has the same design and principle of operation. SOD on VAZ 2117 refers to closed-type liquid cooling systems. This means that thermal energy from the heated parts of the motor is removed by the coolant flow, that is, coolant (antifreeze).

The cooling system (VAZ Lada Kalina) includes a number of functional elements:

1. ICE cooling radiator. This unit is designed to reduce the temperature of heated antifreeze using a cold air stream.
2. Radiator fan. This part performs the function of increasing the cooling rate of the coolant () in the system.
3. Heater radiator. This is, in fact, a source of warm air for the passenger compartment.
4. Expansion tank. Since the coolant tends to expand and contract with constant temperature fluctuations, this capacity serves to compensate for the volume of antifreeze in the system.
5. Centrifugal pump or “pump”. This element carries out forced circulation of the coolant through the channels of the vehicle system.
6. Thermostat. This small, at first glance primitive part, performs a very important function: it regulates the right amount of antifreeze passing through the engine cooling radiator. Thanks to the thermostat, the most optimal temperature regime in the system is ensured.
7. Coolant temperature sensor This is one of the controls of the ODS.

A diagram of the engine cooling system (Kalina 2117) is shown in the photo below:

Principle of operation

The algorithm of this system is the close interaction of various sensors, parts and elements, including devices that measure oil temperature, outside temperature and many other factors. Given all these points, at VAZ Kalina, the cooling system automatically sets the optimal conditions for switching on and the operating time of all structural elements, thereby ensuring effective engine cooling.

It should also be noted that, depending on the temperature, the liquid can pass in a small or large circle. In the first case, the antifreeze passes through all the channels of the system, bypassing the radiator. The thermostat is in the closed position during this circulation. When the engine temperature rises, this part gradually opens, and the antifreeze begins to “run through” a large circle, falling into the radiator. The latter is cooled by a counter flow of air, and if the SOD is not enough, it will signal the fan, which will forcibly direct cold air to the cells.

After cooling, the coolant flows back to the small circle. Further, depending on the engine temperature, the system automatically circulates the antifreeze either in a large or in a small circle, maintaining the optimal operating temperature of the internal combustion engine (95-105 degrees Celsius).

What is the importance of ODS?

As we noted earlier, SOD plays an important role in the operation of the car. If this cooling system does not work correctly, the engine will often overheat, and the stove will cease to supply a warm stream of air. Thus, with a faulty SOD, the resource of the engine and many other vulnerable elements in the engine compartment is significantly reduced.

How to diagnose SOD?

How the cooling system is arranged in the VAZ 2117 Kalina car, we have already found out, now we will talk in more detail about how to find out its possible malfunctions.

Note that if you doubt the correct operation of the cooling system, it is not necessary to drive the car to the service station and order diagnostics - you can find out the reasons yourself.

So where to start?

The first step is to check the level of antifreeze in the system. To do this, open the hood and look at the expansion tank. Ideally, it should be filled ½ of the total volume. If necessary, add coolant to this level.

If you find a leak of antifreeze, then inspect the engine compartment of the car - there may be smudges here.

The most common causes of coolant leakage from the system are:

1. Old pipe clamps.
2. Old heating radiator or punched cooling radiator. In the first case, the situation will be saved only by a complete replacement of the device, but in the second, it is quite possible to get by with repair (solder the holes).
   

The next step is to check the coolant circulation in the engine cooling system. To do this, open the lid of the expansion tank and see how the antifreeze stream enters it. If the result turned out to be unsatisfactory, you must either change the pump or clean the SOD system (this can be done using special means for flushing).

If the car began to overheat often, then there may be several reasons for this:

• Thermostat. It is very simple to check its performance: on a warm engine, touch the lower and upper radiator pipe with your hand. If the latter turned out to be cold, and the lower one was barely warm, then most likely the thermostat has jammed, and the antifreeze circulates only in a small circle. In this case, the solution to the problem is to install a new device in the car.
• Clogged radiator cell. Also one of the common causes of malfunctions in the cooling system. Especially often it occurs in late May - early June, the year annoying poplar fluff flies down the street. The solution is to clean the outside of the radiator. Often this work causes difficulties for motorists, however, other methods for solving clogged cells have not yet been invented. Therefore, everything is cleaned by hand.
• Bad fan. If you notice that when the coolant level increases, this part does not turn on, you should check the temperature sensor, wiring, and relay.
• Air in the cooling system. "Kalina", like any other car, is not immune to air traffic inside the SOD. And if in all the previous cases the problem was solved very quickly or, at least, is understandable, then motorists often have problems here. Therefore, in order to fully explain the picture, below we will consider how such breakdowns are eliminated.

As you can see, malfunctions of the Kalina cooling system can be quite different. But in any case, overheating is not the best factor for the engine.

“Lada Kalina” and air congestion: how to remove airing?

The first step is to open the expansion tank cap. Then start the engine and, periodically pressing the gas pedal, warm up the engine until the temperature sensor rises to the red scale. After turning on the fan, “gas” a little more and turn off the ignition. If the air plug in this way could not be eliminated, you will have to go to more radical measures.

How is this done? First, the plastic screen of the engine is removed (it is removed by a simple upward movement). Then, using a screwdriver, the clamp is released, and one of the two tubes is removed on the throttle assembly preheater. Then the cap of the expansion tank is unscrewed. The container neck is covered with a clean rag. Next, you need to blow into the expansion tank until coolant spills from the removed pipe. If it was not possible to break through the tank, close the lid and put the throttle assembly tube back. Next, you need to warm up the engine again and turn off the ignition. After that, without removing the lid from the tank, remove the heating tube again and wait until antifreeze flows out of it under pressure.

Since this liquid is very toxic and poses a certain danger to humans, experts recommend draining the coolant with extreme caution. Do not forget about safety: at least you should have a pair of rubber gloves. Also monitor the temperature of the tubes, the coolant must be drained only with the engine cool.

Now put the tube on the fitting and tighten the clamps. At this stage, the air in the cooling system (Kalina, VAZ) was successfully removed. As you can see, you can troubleshoot ODS without involving specialists.

In the future, in order to prevent such malfunctions of the cooling system, Lada Kalina should be regularly diagnosed for the density of all clamps and connections in the system.

How to improve SOD?

At the moment, there are several ways to improve SOD:

1. Alteration of the cooling system. "Kalina" in this case is equipped with a new 6-hole thermostat. This action will make maintaining the temperature of the antifreeze in the system more stable, as well as normalizing the work of the interior heating elements.
2. To reduce malfunctions of the cooling system, Lada Kalina is equipped with a coolant filter.
3. Installing the faucet of the stove.
4. Additional pump in the engine cooling system. It will not only not allow you to freeze in the winter cold in the car, but also make the antifreeze circulate faster through the channels, which will significantly reduce the risk of ICE overheating.
   

So, we found out how the cooling system is arranged in VAZ Kalina, what malfunctions can occur with it and how to eliminate these problems.