Vehicles of the VAZ concern have one global disadvantage - the car's stove. Despite the fact that VAZ-2110 cars have already taken into account some shortcomings in the heating system, the situation with air distribution remains at an insufficient level.
Often, with the onset of cold weather, drivers are faced with the problem of poor-quality operation of the car’s heating system or its complete failure. An unforeseen situation must be resolved urgently, since improper functioning of the heater causes significant discomfort for the driver and passengers and reduces safe driving.
A stove installed on the dashboard of a VAZ-2110 car
The temperature in the vehicle interior is adjusted by using the VAZ-2110 heater damper, which often fails. Let's take a closer look at how to repair and replace the VAZ-2110 heater damper with your own hands.
Diagnostics of the heater damper operation
In most cases, stove problems appear with the arrival of cold weather, when it is one of the main attributes that ensure comfort in the vehicle interior. A common problem in dozens of stoves is the incorrect distribution of warm air flows that enters the car interior. Often a situation arises when the stove does not respond to switching temperature modes and supplies only cold or only hot air. Both the first and second options bring significant inconvenience for the driver.
Most often, under such circumstances, the culprit of what is happening is the heater damper of the VAZ-2110. Dozens that were produced before September 2003 are equipped with old-style stoves. They are equipped with plastic flaps, which tend to deform from high temperatures. And also very often the valve seat is destroyed, which makes controlling it almost impossible. When the valve is jammed in one position, only hot or cold air is supplied to the cabin. If, for example, warm air flows towards the windshield, but hot air flows towards the feet of the driver and passengers, therefore, the damper does not open completely. In a situation where the valves do not move at all, it is necessary to check the micro-gearbox - the drive mechanism of the part.
Micro-reducer of the heater damper of the VAZ-2110 car
If the problem is with the heater damper itself, then when switching modes, peculiar clicks will be heard, which indicate that its shaft is turning. In this case, repairing the damper is practically impossible; it must be replaced with a new product. For these purposes, it is better to purchase, instead of a standard plastic valve with a foam seal, a similar product of a new type. The modernized dampers are made of metal and have a rubber seal. The new damper is highly resistant to high temperatures and fits more tightly to the heater body thanks to an improved rubber seal.
The next element that can influence the operation of the valve is the micro-gearbox that controls its rods. If you cannot hear the traditional sound of the damper stroke when switching temperature modes using the regulator, then the cause may be the micro-gearbox of the drive. If it breaks down, it must be replaced, because restoring its functionality will not give long-term results.
Heater channel damper VAZ 2110
The automatic temperature maintenance system used on the VAZ-2110 is more convenient in terms of control, since the automatic control system does everything independently, but is less reliable than a mechanical cable drive.
Moreover, problems are caused by the electronic and electrical components of the stove - the controller, temperature sensor and micromotor gearbox, the central damper, which regulates the air supply to the cabin from the outside. Problems with the operation of the VAZ-2110 heater related to the damper:
- lack of temperature control (only hot or cold air comes from the stove) regardless of the position of the handle on the controller;
- insufficient air heating (even when setting the handle to the maximum temperature);
- squeaks, knocks and extraneous noises after setting the temperature.
The cause of such problems is the central damper of the VAZ-2110 stove, which is adjusted by the controller through a gearbox. The design of the stove includes another damper - air distribution into zones. It is controlled using a handle mounted on the central air supply deflector into the cabin, so malfunctions with this part are rare.
Depending on the design of the stove, the damper may cause a disruption in the efficient operation of the heater for the following reasons:
- deformation;
- wear of seals;
- deterioration or damage to control levers and rods;
- skew.
Deformation is a problem with old-style heaters. The first dampers of the VAZ-2110 stove were equipped with plastic elements that bent under the influence of temperature. Because of this, even when completely closed, cold air from outside leaks in and mixes with the heated air, and the efficiency of the stove decreases. Subsequently, the designers replaced the plastic flaps with aluminum ones and the problem with deformation disappeared.
To ensure tightness, the dampers have seals that reduce air leakage. Initially, foam rubber seals were used, which quickly wore out and became damaged. Later, foam rubber was replaced with rubber, but this only extended the service life of the seal; over time, the rubber ages, cracks and collapses.
On old-style stoves, rods and levers may break. On new heaters, there is another problem - wear on the edges of the square end of the gearbox, with which it is inserted into the groove made in the damper axis. As a result, the limit switch bypasses the groove, and the heater damper jams, although the gearmotor operates. The misalignment occurs due to the displacement of the damper axis in the mounting holes of the housing. Because of this, the damper warps and jams when opening.
Repair of the VAZ-2110 heater damper
Repair of the damper is carried out only in a situation where it is skewed or jammed in a certain position. It is very difficult to call this a repair; it is most often a forced measure to extend its operation for a short period of time. If there are problems with the valve or its drive, then soon you will still have to disassemble the stove and replace the failed parts.
The repair consists of installing the valve in its standard seat. To do this, you do not need to completely disassemble the heater. With the ignition on, it is enough to try using manual adjustment to try to seat the valve in its seat. You can also remove the deflector and try to activate the damper by hand. If it starts to move, then you have a temporary fix. However, as previously stated, this is a conditional fix for the problem. If a part jams, it will soon have to be replaced, since the stove will not function correctly.
Location of the heater damper of the VAZ-2110 car
If, after restoring the performance of the damper with the ignition on, it is only possible to manually control the damper, then the source of the breakdown is the micro-gearbox.
Replacing the VAZ-2110 heater damper
Replacing the heater damper is not particularly difficult, however, it requires extreme care from the performer. In order to get to the valve, it is necessary to completely dismantle the stove. The main part of the work on removing the stove will be carried out in the engine compartment of the vehicle. Before directly disassembling the stove, it is important to initially disconnect the battery and drain the coolant from the heating system. After this, the windshield, soundproofing material, and heater fan are dismantled and adjusted. Next you need to disconnect the vacuum hose clamp.
The next step is to remove the front part of the heater housing. The work is quite complex, so to simplify the removal of the heater body, you can additionally dismantle the instrument panel and unscrew the fasteners from the inside of the cabin that hold the heater in place. After this, you can lift the heater from the engine compartment and remove the brackets and screws securing the front part of the heater. Only after completing this amount of work can the front part of the stove be dismantled without difficulty.
Next you need to disconnect all the hoses and pipes that go to the radiator. After this, the rear heater casing and radiator are dismantled. Only after these manipulations have been performed will access to the damper be opened. At this point, the preparatory stage of work can be considered complete. After this, you need to proceed directly to replacing the VAZ-2110 heater damper with a new part.
Repair and replacement of the damper of a VAZ-2110 car
Dismantling a damaged part and installing a new one is not particularly difficult. The only question that may arise during dismantling is how to remove the heater damper rod of the VAZ-2110. Although it is plastic, it fits extremely tightly on the shaft. To dismantle it you will need two screwdrivers. Use a thin screwdriver to lift the fastening lever, and use a second screwdriver to loosen the plastic protrusions of the rod. After disconnecting the rod, the upper valve will go down on its own, since nothing else will hold it.
When installing a new part, you need to pay attention to the fork located on the valve axis. It is important to secure it in such a way that it engages with the lever. When installed correctly, the heater valve should be in a raised position. In another situation, it will be impossible to adjust and replacing the part will not give the desired results.
When installing a new part, some drivers simultaneously modify the heater damper rods. The design of the rods has some disadvantages. When switching the damper control lever, you can see that in any position of the lever, the air flow towards the driver’s feet is blocked by either the first or second damper. To improve the distribution of air flow, it will be necessary to shorten the adjustable draft by three divisions. For this purpose, it is necessary to cut off the retractable rod end. Such a simple modification will help the damper to move to the required position, which will have a positive effect on air distribution. The flow of warm air will flow evenly to the driver’s feet, the side windows of the car and from the central deflector.
After this, all the removed parts are installed in the reverse order, and coolant is added. Care must be taken when connecting pipes and hoses. Only sealed connections will guarantee high-quality functioning of the heating system. After this, you can check the operation of the dampers and the entire heating system.
Functionality check
If you do not want to spend a lot of money on repairing and replacing the device, you need to first check whether such manipulations are required. To do this, you can try to return the displaced damper to its rightful place.
Traction
For this:
- Turn on the ignition;
- Switch the regulator to different positions;
- Manually move the flap;
- This way it can be returned to its original position.
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Of course, you first have to dismantle the deflector to gain access to the damper. If this method works, the damper will be able to work again as before, which means it will respond to the regulator.
But this cannot be considered a full-fledged measure for restoring the functionality of the damper, since if the socket is already loosened, the unit will no longer be able to work normally. At first, you will apply the half-measures described above over and over again, but over time you will still have to replace the heater damper on the VAZ 2110.
Pay attention to the conditions under which the damper can be operated. If this happens only manually with the ignition on and the regulator turned to the extreme position, then the cause of the breakdown lies in the micromotor gearbox. Other suspects are the microfan with temperature sensor and the control unit.
If any of these components stops working normally or is completely out of order, then the heater damper will not work on the VAZ 2110. Only its replacement is required. Ignoring the problem will result in even greater repair costs in the future.
Repair of the stove damper drive
When replacing the VAZ-2110 heater damper, it is simultaneously necessary to carry out work to check and, if necessary, repair or replace the heater micro-reducer. It is located under the windshield trim, where the vacuum booster is located. To dismantle it, you need to remove two connectors - the micro-gearbox and the motor, and also unscrew the fastening screws. After this, the motor is removed from the micro-gearbox and its operation is checked by connecting it to the stove control unit. If it is faulty, then you need to replace the part with a new product. It is also possible to repair the motor, however, only in extremely rare cases.
A working motor is installed in the micro-reducer and it is mounted on a standard seat. This must be done very carefully so that the motor pin fits correctly into the lever connector on the heater valve.
After installation, it is necessary to check the movement of the damper drive levers by turning the temperature regulator in the vehicle interior. After checking the movement of the levers, it is necessary to reassemble all dismantled elements in the reverse order.
Assembly
When installing a new damper, be sure to make sure that the fork located on its axis is clearly engaged with the lever. If the flap is in the raised position, you did everything right. Otherwise, it will be impossible to control the device, so you can forget about restoring the functionality of the stove.
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Damper location
After this, reverse the assembly procedure according to the dismantling steps. Refill the system with coolant and check that the new damper is in place. It is important to ensure that there are no leaks and that the hose connections are not tight.
Turn on the stove and check how the heater behaves. If everything is normal, you have carried out competent and successful work, for which we congratulate you.
Let's sum it up
Malfunction of the VAZ-2110 heater damper is a common malfunction, especially in vehicles with old-style heaters. Breakage in most cases is due to the quality of plastic dampers, which are very often subject to deformation. It is possible to repair and replace the VAZ-2110 stove valve yourself without the help of professionals. Before starting work, you need to understand that in order to carry out high-quality repairs and restore the previous functionality of the heating system, the stove will have to be completely dismantled.
Despite the complexity of the work ahead, the result will please the driver and passengers with warmth and comfort in the vehicle interior. A high-quality repair of the heater damper and its drive guarantees stable operation of the vehicle’s heating system at any time of the year.
