A car starter is a device designed to start an engine by rotating its crankshaft. Its design is based on a conventional electric DC motor, which is controlled by the driver from inside the car.
The starter does not have a permanent connection to the crankshaft of the power unit. They interact only a few seconds at startup thanks to a special relay. We will talk about him in this article on the example of Samara of the fourteenth model. We will try to figure out what the VAZ-2114 starter relay is, where this device is located, how it works. We will also consider its main malfunctions and the procedure for replacing it.
Where is the starter relay on the VAZ-2114
Let's start with the location of the device. On the "fourteenth" it is placed on top of the launcher housing. In fact, these two nodes are combined into one, although they are completely different devices. In front, they are closed by a common lid, under which there is a mechanism connecting them.
Some drivers tend to think that on the VAZ-2114 starter relay is a separate element that serves to protect the electrical circuit of the starting device. In fact, this is not so. Indeed, individual car owners, incl. and "fourteenth", install an additional circuit breaker in the starter circuit. But he has nothing to do with the device we are considering.
Starter Relay Design
VAZ-2114 starter relay consists of:
- housing;
- Anchors
- two windings (retracting and holding);
- return spring;
- contacts ("pyataks").
On different modifications of the VAZ-2114, different starter circuit breakers can be installed. Some of them are collapsible, others are not. The former, in case of their malfunction, you can try to repair, and the latter - only replace.
Why "retractor"
The relay of the starting device is often called a retractor. This is due to the principle of his work. As on other cars, on the VAZ-2114, the starter relay performs the function of connecting the starting device to the electric circuit and connecting its anchor to the crankshaft. It happens as follows. When current is not supplied to the windings of the device, its armature under the action of the return spring is in the forward position. The same spring holds a bendix gear through a special fork, preventing it from engaging with the crown of the crankshaft flywheel.
Turning the key in the ignition, we apply current to the winding of the device. Under the influence of an electromagnetic field, the anchor is fed back (drawn into the housing), closing the starter power contacts. The bendix gear also shifts, engaging with the flywheel. At this moment, the retractor winding is disconnected, and the retention coil comes into play. The force from the starter shaft is transmitted through the gear to the flywheel, causing the crankshaft to rotate until we stop holding the key in the ignition in the start position.
Solenoid Relay Symptoms
To understand that on the VAZ-2114 starter relay is out of order, you can by the following signs:
- when you turn the key in the ignition, you can not hear a characteristic click;
- there is a click, but the starter does not twist;
- when the key is returned to the neutral position, the starter does not turn off.
Why does the starter relay fail?
The retractor may lose its functionality due to:
- violation of the integrity of the wiring;
- breakage (burnout) of the windings;
- burning (oxidation) of contacts;
- loosening the return spring.
We check the solenoid relay ourselves
Before judging the malfunction of the starter relay, it must be checked. It is recommended to start with wiring. To check, we need a multimeter, turned on in the mode of a voltmeter, and an assistant. The positive probe of the device is connected to the positive terminal of the disconnecting device, the negative to the mass. Next, we ask the assistant to turn on the ignition and start the starter. We take voltmeter readings. If the device shows a voltage of 12 V or more, everything is in order with the battery and wiring. If it is lower, the battery may be discharged.
Now let's check the state of the contact "five-copeck coins". Disconnect the wire from the ignition switch from the relay. Using a large screwdriver, we close the device output connected to the battery and the terminal connecting it to the starter. Thus, we apply voltage directly to the starter. The starter device has worked - the problem is definitely in the relay. It remains to decide whether to repair it or change it.
Repair or replacement
As already mentioned, the relays on the “fourteenth” can be non-separable and collapsible. In the first case, there is nothing to guess - you need to buy a new device. If it is collapsible, you can try to repair it. However, a hand repair can be justified only in the case of burning or oxidation of contact "pyataks". It is not practical to rewind the windings or change the internal parts of the device.
VAZ-2114 starter solenoid relay: price
How much will it cost to buy a new relay? Believe me, cheaper than repairing it. The cost of a standard device of domestic production is about 700 rubles. You can buy an imported VAZ-2114 starter retractor relay. The price of foreign analogues starts at 800 rubles.
Change yourself or contact a car service?
As for the repair work, then you have to choose. If you have sufficient experience with a hand tool and a couple of hours of free time, you can manage yourself. If you are reluctant to bother with this, contact the car service. There, you can install a new VAZ-2114 starter relay for no more than an hour without problems. The price of such work is about 800 rubles. Expensive? Then roll up your sleeves!
Tools and Tools
Replacing the starter solenoid relay VAZ-2114 involves the use of the following tools:
- 8 key;
- 10 key;
- key at 13;
- crosshead screwdriver;
- slotted screwdriver.
Change the solenoid relay
Replacing the starter relay VAZ-2114 is carried out in the following order:
- The first step is to dismantle the starter. To do this, using a 10-key, unscrew the clamp of the negative battery terminal and remove it. The starter can be removed in two ways: from the bottom of the car (from the inspection hole) and from the engine compartment. Each of the ways is good in its own way. Consider the second. It does not require removal of engine protection and the presence of a viewing hole.
- Using a Phillips screwdriver, dismantle the air filter housing and air duct.
- With a 13 key, unscrew the nuts on the relay terminals. Disconnect the wires from them. Disconnect the red wire from the relay (plastic connector).
- With the same tool, unscrew the nuts securing the starter to the gearbox crankcase. They, depending on the modification of the car, can be two or three.
- Carefully remove the starter from the mounting studs and remove it from the engine compartment.
- Disconnect the wire from the relay to the starter.
- Using a slotted screwdriver, unscrew the two screws on the front cover of the starter. Instead of screws, two bolts at 8 can act as fasteners. In this case, we use the corresponding key to unscrew them.
- When the screws (bolts) are unscrewed, remove the relay from the starter cover. At the same time, its anchor with a return spring may remain in the lid in the state of engagement with the starter plug. We move the anchor from side to side, disengage it and remove it.
- We install a new device in place of the broken relay. Check the state of engagement with the plug.
- We connect the starter wire to the relay.
- We screw in two screws (bolts) of fastening the relay to the starter.
- Install the starter in place in the reverse order.
- We connect to it and the relay wiring.
- We check the operability of the starting device.
Some useful tips
In order for the solenoid relay to last as long as possible, listen to these tips:
- If the battery is discharged, the starter turns slowly and its speed is not enough to start the engine, stop trying to start the car. So you will not only bring the battery into a deep discharge state, but also disable the starter relay.
- When starting the engine, do not turn on the starter for longer than 15 seconds. This will lead to an overload in its circuit, due to which it is possible to burn the relay contacts, burnout of its windings and starter windings.
- When choosing a retractor relay for replacement, do not buy cheap products. It is better to give preference to parts of well-known manufacturers, and buy them only in specialized stores.