The Niva car or VAZ-2121 is one of the most successful developments of domestic engineers. Having begun mass production in 1977, the car was in demand not only in the USSR, and then in Russia, but also abroad. In some countries, fan clubs of this model have even been created. The first Nivas were equipped with a three-door body and a carburetor engine with an output of 80 hp.
They rolled off the assembly line with virtually no changes in design and technical characteristics until 1993. In 1994, car enthusiasts saw a modified body and an 82.8-horsepower engine. The car was named VAZ-21213 Niva. Then the Niva VAZ-21214 appeared, on which, starting in 2002, injection power units began to be installed. In 2006, the name Niva officially ceased to exist. The car, until 2021, was called “LADA 4×4”, and now it is “Lada Niva Legend”.
From the very moment of its creation, until today, the Lada-Niva has been distinguished by the extreme degree of reliability of all components and assemblies. It is not for nothing that a huge number of these cars continue to travel on roads and off-roads, despite the fact that they came off the assembly line several decades ago. But, which is quite natural, the older the car, the more breakdowns there are. Along with the transmission, engine and body, failures of motion control systems occur, which include the speed control system.
In the article we will look at the reasons why the speedometer on the Niva does not work, using the VAZ-21213 and VAZ-21214 as an example, since these cars are the most typical and widespread representatives of the family of Tolyatti SUVs. But first, briefly about the structure of the speedometer itself and the principle of its operation.
Speedometer
The basis of the speedometer design is:
- speed sensor;
- electronic control unit;
- display.
The speed sensor receives indirect information about the speed of the vehicle, which is removed from the drive located in the transfer case. This is typical only for Niva. In other cars, the gear drive of the speedometer is installed on the output shaft of the box or on the drive of the front left wheel.
The sensor, converting the drive speed into electrical impulses (using the resulting Hall effect), transmits them to the electronic unit, which processes the signal and sends it to the display. The latter shows on its screen what the current speed of the car is. Data can be presented as numbers or a scale on digital displays, or indicated by a moving arrow pointing to the values on a graduated scale on analogue indicators.
For your information. The electronic unit, receiving and processing information, sends it not only to the speedometer display, but also to the fuel supply system. The higher the speed, the more fuel will flow into the engine. It is also interesting that the program contains an algorithm that prevents the electric power steering from operating when the speed sensor is faulty.
Why the Niva Chevrolet speedometer does not work: reasons and repairs
Modern cars are packed with sensors like a Christmas turkey with apples. Moreover, all or almost all sensors are interdependent. If the speedometer on our Niva Chevrolet does not work, it may happen that the electronic control unit also receives incorrect impulses. And this affects engine performance , gasoline consumption, and power.
A non-working speedometer is not just an inconvenience, it is a reason to look at the reasons and restore the system’s functionality. The video shows how the speedometer on a Niva Chevrolet can “glitch”:
Why does the speedometer not work?
There may be several reasons why the speedometer on the Niva suddenly stopped working.
Let's list the main ones:
- The malfunction may have occurred due to a broken speed sensor.
- Secondly, the car wiring is damaged or the contact in the electrical circuit is broken.
- The third reason, sometimes, is the speedometer needle getting stuck in a certain position.
- A problem with the electronics of the control unit can also cause a speedometer malfunction.
- Incorrect installation of speed control system parts after they have been replaced or removed.
Why does the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva not work?
This article discusses several tips to easily understand why the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva does not work, and how to fix these problems.
Chevrolet Niva cars are equipped with electronic speedometers. The speed sensor provides information about how fast the vehicle is moving. The sensor is installed on the gearbox housing. Among the signs of a malfunction: the needle begins to twitch; at those moments when the car maintains a stable speed limit, it can produce a variety of indicators. There are often cases of complete failure - the arrow simply stops showing data and remains in a static position.
What to do if the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva does not work
As soon as problems appear in the operation of the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva, a special indicator should light up; it is very important to quickly check the error codes that appear on the ECU. If you see the code "0500" - the problem is in the speed sensor, you will have to find a convenient place where you can access this element. This code may indicate that the sensor itself is broken, or the problem may be hidden in its mechanical drive.
Why does the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva not work?
In addition to the reasons already mentioned, problems may arise with the vehicle's electrical network. It is best not to try to diagnose and fix the problem yourself - this can lead to unpleasant consequences.
But if you have the necessary knowledge, then pay attention to the sensor itself; moisture may get into the connector, which affects the correct operation of this device.
The red block of the instrument cluster may cause a temporary loss of contact - an error was made during installation and the block was not installed evenly.
How to disable the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva - a few tips
If the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva is not working properly, but the indicator does not light up, then it’s time to diagnose the dashboard yourself. Simply press the button, which is used to reset the vehicle's daily readings - no need to turn on the ignition. It will have to be turned on immediately after holding the button pressed for a while. If everything works properly, the arrows move to the maximum mark and return to zero.
If the speedometer needle remains in place, or there are other problems, then you need to diagnose the entire system and check the dashboard. It is likely that the problem lies in these places. You will have to change the entire instrument cluster, since you will not find additional parts; the manufacturer does not produce them.
Modern cars are packed with sensors like a Christmas turkey with apples. Moreover, all or almost all sensors are interdependent. If the speedometer on our Niva Chevrolet does not work, it may happen that the electronic control unit also receives incorrect impulses. And this affects engine performance , gasoline consumption, and power. A non-working speedometer is not just an inconvenience, it is a reason to look at the reasons and restore the system’s functionality.
The reason is the sensor
In principle, this is one of the few speedometer malfunctions that you can try to find and fix yourself. Not counting the jammed arrow and the torn cable. All other problems, including those with the electronic control unit and digital display, are best resolved at specialized service stations.
The first sign of a speed controller failure will be the speedometer stopping or its readings being incorrect. But the fact that the speedometer has stopped working due to the speed sensor can be determined by other signs:
- The engine constantly stalls when idling. This does not depend on whether the car is standing or rolling.
- The car cannot accelerate due to loss of power.
- Fuel consumption in all driving modes has increased sharply.
The reason that a faulty sensor affects engine performance so much is that it is included not only in the speedometer circuitry, but also in other systems.
You can check the functionality of this device using a voltmeter. It is more convenient to do this if you remove the sensor. But you can check it in its original place, without dismantling it. In any case, you need to gain access to his contacts. On a working sensor, the voltage readings will increase along with the increase in the rotation speed of its axis.
For your information. Rotation of the sensor core, which has not been removed from the vehicle, can be achieved by turning the suspended drive wheel.
Before checking and changing the sensor, which breaks quite rarely, you need to make sure the contacts are reliable. Often the problem lies in their oxidation or excessive contamination, since most Niva cars are operated in extreme conditions. Typically, the problem with a non-working speed sensor is solved after checking each contact, cleaning them and lubricating them with a protective compound.
Lambda errors in the vehicle's on-board system
Error codes on Shnivy do not show the exact location of the problem. For diagnostics, you will need to connect a special scanner to the car. The errors described below will indicate where exactly the breakdown is located.
- R-130-132 – the problem lies in incorrect data from the first sensor.
- 0134/135 indicates an open circuit of the sensor with contact to ground/on-board wiring, respectively.
- 136 speaks of a similar problem only with DK2.
- 0140-0141 complete failure of sensor No. 2 or its wiring is damaged.
On-board network malfunction
Often, this is precisely the reason why the speedometer has stopped working. After all, all information in modern devices is transmitted through electrical wires. A break or short circuit may occur in the vehicle wiring. A multimeter can detect this. If you have the skills to work with this device, you can try to find and fix the problem yourself.
Before you start searching for a break, you need to carefully inspect the wires to visually detect damage. After this, the tightness of the terminals is checked. If everything seems intact, the search begins using special equipment:
- The multimeter is set to ringing mode.
- The probes are attached to the ends of the area being tested.
- If the wiring is intact, a beep will sound. Its absence will mean that the break occurred in the location being tested.
To check for a network short circuit, the multimeter is also set to ringing mode. Before starting work, the wire is disconnected from the vehicle's electrical circuit. And, if in the case of a break, the signal indicated that the cables were in good condition, then the sound of the multimeter will now show where the short circuit occurred.
As a rule, eliminating problems with the wiring and replacing the speed sensor resolves the issue with the performance of the speedometer. But, if this does not happen, you need to contact specialists as soon as possible. After all, driving a car with inoperative speed control not only harms its technical condition, but also poses a real danger to the life and health of all road users.
Why the speedometer does not work on a Chevrolet Niva
speedometer Niva Chevrolet
Repair of the Niva Chevrolet speedometer is often not durable. The wire may fray or suffer other mechanical damage.
The photo turned out blurry, but the principle is clear: In general, the speedometer worked, the errors disappeared - the problem was solved. ...
The terminals are disconnected from the sensor. The sensor is unscrewed. Inspect and evaluate its condition. This was the problem - the wires, the speed sensor itself was working.
We’ll return to the sensor later, but for now we’ll check the entire dashboard for the functionality of each of the devices. Depending on the rotation speed, the level of current generated and, accordingly, the position of the speedometer needle depend. In addition, the wires themselves that go to the speed sensor often come under attack.
Why the Niva Chevrolet speedometer does not work: reasons and repairs
Failure of the speed sensor. ECU malfunction.
Dashboard test and speedometer check Error If there is error information in the ECU memory, this indicates that something is wrong with the impulse coming from the Chevrolet Niva sensor. How to disable the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva - a few tips If the speedometer on a Chevrolet Niva is not working properly, but the indicator does not light up, then it’s time to diagnose the dashboard yourself. Simply press the button, which is used to reset the vehicle's daily readings - no need to turn on the ignition.
It will have to be turned on immediately after holding the button pressed for a while.
