Chevrolet Niva: pros, cons and features of the car

02 October 2020 Lada.Online 14 628 12

Weaknesses and typical problems are identified during the operation of any car, the Chevrolet Niva (and now Lada Niva) is no exception. There is such an SUV in the editorial park of the Za Rulem magazine. Over the 7 years of its operation, experts have studied all the problems and weaknesses of this car. When choosing a used Niva, pay attention to these points.

Exterior of the updated Niva

There have been no significant changes to the exterior of the updated SUV. You can only highlight the block of headlights and fog lights. The developers installed rear-view mirrors, providing them with an electric drive.

At the rear of the car, noteworthy is the spare wheel bracket, which is made of light alloy metal . It is not subject to corrosion. The rear door opens to the side, allowing easy access to the luggage compartment.

Disadvantages of HBO

Keep in mind that installing such equipment is not cheap . You will have to spend at least 17.5 thousand rubles. However, after a few months the costs will be fully recouped. Do not skimp on the work of specialists, as modern equipment will be problematic to install and configure yourself.

The next disadvantage is the popping noise that you will feel if you have any problems with the engine . In the intake manifold, the air flow mixes with gas, which causes a mini-explosion. This will not happen when installing a 4th generation system.

You will not be able to completely give up gasoline without burning out the electric fuel pump if there is no corresponding switch. The gas has a different composition and needs to be heated before use. Therefore, in the cold season, it is unlikely that you will be able to start right away with an LPG: you will have to start and warm up the car on gasoline. Gas freezes when interacting with air: this can happen not only during cold periods, but also in summer. In order for the gas to heat up, you need an evaporator reducer, which is heated with hot antifreeze, it allows the gas not to freeze and mix with air.

If there is a problem, it will be more difficult for you to determine the cause , since the problem may be related to one of the types of fuel. Installed equipment takes up a lot of space, so it can limit your access to the parts you need.

The reinstallation must be registered in the registration certificate , since the installation of gas equipment is a re-equipment of vehicles. Therefore, it is better to have the installation done at a specified service station - if you have a new car, in this case you will not lose the warranty. The registration must be completed at the traffic police department.

SUV interior

In the cabin, in terms of comfort and equipment, there are noticeable changes for the better. The instrument panel has acquired a modern look. We were pleased with the seats for front passengers with a range of adjustments.

The three-spoke steering wheel fits well in the hands . The range of additional systems and functions has been improved. All switches are in the driver's direct line of sight and accessible. This allows you to concentrate on driving while driving and not be distracted from the road situation.

Chevrolet niva 2016 interior

Types and generations of gas equipment for Chevrolet Niva

Generations of gas equipment were mentioned several times above in the article. There are 5 of them in total, but mainly the 2nd and 4th ones are installed . The 2nd generation equipment is multifunctional; it is installed on cars that have a difference in the way the air-fuel mixture is formed, that is, with a carburetor, where fuel is supplied and mixed with air purely mechanically, and an injection engine, where fuel is supplied under pressure through special nozzles. With this system, you can manually adjust the mixture composition.

The fourth generation is more modern - gas is injected directly into the cylinders. HBO-4 has a special control unit that receives commands from the ECU.

Technical part

1.7-liter power unit is installed in the engine compartment . The engine power is 80 horsepower . The car has acquired a softer and smoother ride due to updated shock absorbers and enlarged silent blocks.

Vehicle vibration has noticeably decreased. Unfortunately, there were no significant or conceptual changes to the car. With certain progress and additional equipment, the shortcomings of an SUV are visible to the naked eye.

Features of installation of gas equipment

The trunk of the Chevrolet Niva is large; there is no spare wheel, which frees up space accordingly. The first thing you need to decide is the type of gas cylinder, cylindrical or toroidal . The first option is classic, it is installed either in the trunk or under the bottom.

By installing a cylinder in the trunk, you take up a lot of space, but you don’t have to redo the design of the towbar and muffler . To convert the muffler, you will need to install a curved pipe that will run under the cylinder. As for the towbar, you will have to remove one plate (it will interfere with the installation of the cylinder) and make an additional fastening.

Another type of cylinder is toroidal. Many consider this option to be the most optimal, since the cylinder is installed in the place where the spare tire should have been, and has the same round shape. The volume of such a cylinder is about 50 liters.

Disadvantages of the Chevrolet Niva

Manufacturers have failed to cope with the problem of cabin noise . The car is honking. A hum makes its way into the cabin due to the installed transfer case. This disadvantage can be partially reduced. It is necessary to install additional sound insulation.
The vibration is not felt as strong as before. But it is present and comes from the bridges.
Another problem arising from previous shortcomings: increased fuel consumption . It can be solved by installing gas equipment. The SUV's gasoline consumption is 8 liters per 100 km on the highway. Within the city, consumption increases significantly and reaches 14 liters per 100 km.
The power unit for an SUV is frankly rather weak . There is not enough power and agility for high-speed overtaking and maneuvers. You need to come to terms with this. After all, a car weighing 1.5 tons is positioned as a vehicle for off-road and rough terrain.
Experts and owners of the new SUV note the small capacity of the luggage compartment and the inconvenience of placement in the cabin. There is simply not enough space.

There are still minor shortcomings, but they can be solved and are not a constant headache for the driver.

Sores

During the year, Stas traveled approximately 35 thousand kilometers. I drove both in the city and off-road. During this time I had to face the following problems:

Replaced the center steering linkage twice. Costs about 800-900 rubles. The steering pendulum was also replaced almost immediately after purchase. Price - 3500 rub.
The Shevikov's disease is hydraulic compensators. They break down and knock. I've changed it three times already.
Changed the expansion tank. The regular ones are bursting. “VAG” is installed. Price - 700 rub.
The clutch was changed once. It stood. Valeo has a peculiarity: when the clutch heats up, the car starts to twitch. Price - 7000 rub.
The car is currently having problems with the door locks. Sometimes they open, sometimes they don’t. They can be replaced as a set.

As we can see, the car has a number of design flaws, but the cost of eliminating them is small. Often, given the ease of repair, owners troubleshoot problems themselves, which significantly reduces the cost of owning a car.

Positive aspects of the Chevrolet Niva

Along with the generally recognized shortcomings that experts are working on, there are many positive aspects.

A significant argument is the cost of the car . The price is affordable for most potential buyers.
The car is unpretentious in maintenance.
Spare parts, units and components are constantly in stock. Their cost practically does not increase.
The car has high cross-country ability.
Due to the large approach and departure angles (350/370), the SUV can overcome obstacles that are inaccessible to ordinary passenger cars.
The downshift and forced locking of the center differential help to easily move along the autobahn or confidently overcome off-road conditions.
The ergonomic suspension ensures a smooth ride.

This is an incomplete list of the positive qualities of the new Chevrolet Niva car.

Content

Service
Necessary improvements
Sores
Is it worth buying a Chevrolet Niva?

Chevrolet Niva was the most purchased SUV in Russia in 2004-2008. The car won two prestigious awards - “SUV of the Year 2009” and “SUV of the Year 2015”. By 2015, more than 550 thousand cars were produced, of which about 40 thousand were exported to the CIS countries.

Is it worth buying this car today? What to expect from Chevrolet Niva in the secondary car market? We asked these questions to Stas, the owner of a 2003 Chevrolet Niva.

Before meeting with Stas, we checked his car by license plate through the Autocode service. The report showed that the car has no legal problems. Also, the car was not involved in an accident, and the mileage on it was not adjusted.

The owner himself said that he bought the car in July 2021. He needed a car to drive around the city and sometimes go off-road.

Stas claims that the car is easy to maintain. The simple design and cheap spare parts make it quite repairable.

The main problems of the Chevrolet Niva VAZ-2123 engine

Among the most common malfunctions are the following:

The motor does not turn on.
The engine stalls at idle and when driving.
Reduced power of the power unit.

Reasons for startup problems:

contamination of fuel lines (the system is washed with water or cleaned with compressed air);
clogging of the fuel filter (the filter element is cleaned or replaced with a new device);
the gasoline pump is broken, the unit has stopped pumping or supplies an insufficient amount of fuel (you need to install a new gasoline pump).

If the engine often stalls, this indicates a malfunction in the fuel pump, as well as the idle air regulator, which needs to be replaced with a new mechanism. The engine may also stop working if air gets into the gasoline hoses. In order to eliminate this defect, it is recommended to eliminate damage to the hoses and their fixation points, tighten the fastenings of the clamps, etc.

If a discrepancy between the engine power and the nominal values is detected, it is necessary to check the throttle valve adjustments and the condition of its position sensor. A faulty sensor cannot be repaired; it will simply need to be replaced with a new device. It is also recommended to check the serviceability of the engine ignition system (spark plugs) and the amount of battery charge.

Which modification is better

It is impossible to say unequivocally which engine is more reliable and better. A lot depends on how you use the car. For urban conditions, the Z18XE is better suited; it is more effective on asphalt. The VAZ-2123 has lower revs, which is very good off-road.

If we take reliability into account, both cars break down. But the Z18XE has much fewer minor faults that ruin the lives of car enthusiasts. At the same time, the VAZ-2123 is well known for minor problems with leaks, sensor failures and other shortcomings.

Installation and maintenance of gas equipment on Niva Chevrolet

When installing gas equipment, pay attention to gas lines . Today, car enthusiasts are increasingly choosing plastic over copper. This is due to the fact that sooner or later oxides form inside the tube, due to which the permeability deteriorates, and the filters also suffer.

The work algorithm is as follows:

Install a gearbox that is attached to the body, not to the engine. Provide access to it.
Connect the equipment to the SOD , make an outlet for the high pressure line and connect the fitting to the airless space.
Connect the pipe , carefully drilling so that the new gas injectors are positioned correctly.
In the opening, apply a thread , which is best lubricated with a sealant that is resistant to high temperatures.
Install a gas ramp that mounts on top of the intake manifold.
Extend the gas supply path from the reducer, do not forget about the filter that purifies the gas.

It is better to entrust this work to a professional.

If your system is configured correctly, fuel consumption will be the same as with gasoline . Car maintenance does not change: do not forget to change consumables and oil on time, even if it does not turn black.

The same goes for the gas filter; it should also be changed. Don't be surprised if the filter isn't dirty; change it anyway. Condensation accumulates in the gas reducer, so try to drain it using a special tap. When draining you will see a black mixture, this is normal.