If you are the owner of a Niva-21213 and are in love with this vehicle, then you are unlikely to give it up if you find some technical defects in it. In principle, this is absolutely correct; you can remain faithful to your “iron horse”, and if defects are identified, try to eliminate them yourself.
Niva-21213, indeed, needs some of your intervention; tuning the Niva stove will not be superfluous at all.
In the summer, you won’t be able to notice any inconvenience, but with the onset of cold weather, you definitely won’t be able to do without enhanced wardrobe equipment in the form of cotton pants and a jacket.
You don’t want to constantly feel like a “tanker”, so most owners of this car decide to roll up their sleeves and modify the stove of their own Niva. By the way, the same problems are inherent in another domestic model - the UAZ, the owners of which are also actively searching for what to do to improve the performance of the stove.
The process of refining the heating system
It is useful to note that modification of the VAZ-2121 stove is not accompanied by high problems. Even a car enthusiast who does not have special technical and repair skills can eliminate such technical defects.
In addition, modification of the Niva-2121 stove may involve performing a variety of actions, including the most basic ones.
Heating in your car can be improved by even just slightly upgrading the air ducts. If you want to radically improve the heating system and increase comfort, then, of course, you will have to tinker a little more.
Tuning Chevrolet Niva panels
Here the expression will be relevant: the need for invention is cunning. Tuning a Chevrolet Niva torpedo will help you realize your imagination and available materials with your own hands:
- Construction foam
- Various homemade items
- Epoxy – epoxy resin
- Grinding tool
All of the above will give the standard torpedo a new stylish appearance.
The second improvement option is to fit the torpedo from other car models. This may require modification of the standard fasteners. But the same can be done on a new torpedo, which will be a rational solution. A good option would be to upholster the dashboard with some expensive material, such as leather.
Tuning the Chevrolet Niva instrument panel is done using specialized overlays or elements from other cars. Here everything is limited only by the owner’s imagination.
Air duct modernization
Unfortunately, if you carefully examine the air ducts that your Niva is equipped with, you will be horrified at how it was possible to install so many cracks in it. Is it possible to expect good heating with such a design?
The answer, of course, is simple, since all the heated air is dispersed under the dashboard, and the interior is heated according to the residual principle.
However, it’s good when a problem is so easily identified, then solving it is much easier. Upgrading the air duct involves applying silicone glue to all joints.
Be prepared for the fact that performing such actions is sometimes quite difficult, since not all places have unobstructed access. You still have to get used to it and apply silicone glue to all the joints.
Heater diagram
1 – damper; 2 – electric fan casing; 3 – fan electric motor; 4 – impeller; 5 – heater radiator; 6 – radiator inlet pipe; 7 – radiator outlet pipe; 8 – radiator casing; 9 – air duct damper; 10 – air duct box; 11 – air duct for heating the windshield;
12 – central deflector damper; 13 – central deflector; 14 – crane control lever; 15 – control lever for the windshield heating flap; 16 – air duct damper control lever; 17 – control lever bracket; 18 – windshield heating flap; 19 – windshield heating damper cable.
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Fan replacement
Experienced car owners recommend not stopping there and continuing to modify the stove by tuning the fan.
Some people suggest getting rid of the fan installed by the manufacturer and installing a figure eight fan instead.
If you also decide to carry out such a replacement, you need to additionally decide whether you will leave the original control of the stove or also replace it with a “eight” analogue.
Having decided on the second option, take care of purchasing the following additional items:
- fan speed switch;
- additional resistor for the stove.
So, after you have completely prepared all the necessary components, you can proceed directly to the process of modifying the fan.
Initially, you should dismantle the old air supply box. Unfortunately, despite the fact that this requires unscrewing only four nuts, it will not be possible to do this without outside help. Your partner will need to hold the screws under the hood while you unscrew them using a wrench.
After this, you can easily remove the air intake. Clean it if it needs it, and then cut away a small amount of the plastic to provide enough space for the new fan to operate.
Install the fan and carefully inspect for anything that may interfere with the operation of the installed fan. If you find such obstacles, carefully cut them off.
Once you are sure that there is nothing else that can prevent the fan from working, secure it with sealant. There are small gaps around the fan nozzle; it is important to eliminate them by covering them with any material. This will prevent warm air from escaping.
Now the assembled fan is being introduced back into the space in which its old counterpart previously “lived”. Everything is securely fastened and the closing and opening of the hood is checked. In some cases, after the introduction of a “foreign” fan, it is not possible to close the hood normally.
If everything is fine, reconnect all wires and install new controls. Upon completion of the work, be sure to check your results in action.
The stove should work perfectly, and warm air should spread very quickly inside the car.
Do-it-yourself modification of the Niva Chevrolet stove
Most often, tuning fields are carried out for off-road use. This is not a complex technological process; it is enough to install the following elements on the car:
- Power kit. Includes a heavy-duty front bumper made from bent steel tubing with a platform for a winch. Making this product is not difficult, you only need to have tools and equipment for working with metal: a pipe bender, a grinder, a welding machine
- Off-road tuning of a Chevrolet Niva necessarily involves replacing standard wheels and tires. The following sizes are perfect here: 1. 215/75/ R15. 2. 205/70/ R16. 3. 205/80/ R16. The first numbers are the tire size, its height and width, the designation after the letter R is the rim diameter. For the last two values, modifications to the front wheel arches may be necessary. Everything here will depend on the width of the tire.
- Installation of a snorkel - an exhaust pipe that goes to the roof. This is necessary if the Niva Chevrolet will be used in extreme off-road conditions.
- A separate item is the installation of a winch on a Chevrolet Niva. Do not assume that this equipment is only necessary for those who participate in competitions. This practical equipment will be an excellent helper during outdoor recreation, as well as in the country and fishing. It is enough to install an electric winch and the car will not care; it will be able to pull itself out of a hole or ditch, and will also help others. The equipment body can be hidden under a homemade metal casing.
Tuning a Chevrolet Niva for off-road use can be complemented with protective, military paint, matte or glossy. This requires certain knowledge. The repainting process is quite labor-intensive and requires an appropriate mark in the technical documentation, so painting is not a mandatory element of tuning 2123 Chevrolet Niva.
Fault Diagnosis
The stove supplied as standard will need to be modified for preventive purposes. The procedure will not take much time, but it will prevent many problems in the future. Driving experience suggests that the first severe frosts will undermine the “health” of the device. The list of main weaknesses is as follows:
- the optimal operating temperature range for model 2121 is from -5 to 10°C;
- inability to warm up the air in the cabin if outside is -8°C or lower;
- when the blowing power increases, the temperature does not increase;
- When driving in 2nd gear, the noise from the Niva's stove becomes significant.
That is why it is better to take the necessary measures in advance. The driver has few alternatives. On the one hand, everything remains in its place. The heating device is used at minimum power. During mild winters this is still tolerable, but with the onset of real cold weather the conditions will become unbearable. On the other hand, it's easy to spend a few hours rectifying the situation.
Further developments proceed as follows. If the heating in the car is running at ½ power, you can limit yourself to minor repairs. The main thing is to make sure that there are no noises or extraneous knocks, otherwise the Niva 21213 should immediately go for a technical inspection.
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The presence of an unpleasant sound indicates the need to replace the device. A specialized retail network offers ready-made options for heating mechanisms for Niva. If desired, it can be assembled independently.
The second option is considered more preferable. When you assemble it yourself, you have the opportunity to literally personalize the stove. To do the work yourself, you will need to visit a specialized store or market to buy spare parts.
When purchasing, original parts or analogues are selected. The main thing is that they have a quality certificate. Otherwise, they cannot be installed. It would be useful to rewrite the technical data of the vehicle so as not to exceed the parameters recommended by the manufacturer.
Technical details of the procedure
The efficiency of the new heating system on Niva will be determined not by the cost of the purchased parts, but by their quality. To operate, you will need the following elements: a car resistor, a figure-eight heater and a “snail”. It is a mistake to believe that only “original” spare parts are suitable for repairing a heating device. The main requirement is technical compatibility.
If in doubt, a drawing of the heating system will provide clarity. The further procedure is as follows:
- Cut a new mounting hole. This is done carefully, because the reliability of the heating system’s operation depends on the quality of the preparatory process. It is recommended to place the engine as low as possible in the air duct, otherwise the device will rest against the hood. This should not be allowed to happen, otherwise the stove fan will not last long.
- Smoothly remove engine power from the air duct. An outlet is used for this.
- Proper installation involves securely securing the motor to the duct. After this, all fastening points without exception are sealed with automotive sealant. It is highly recommended not to miss anything. Otherwise, due to vibration loads and the influence of external factors, the stove connection diagram will be disrupted.
- Take 2 stainless steel plates that adapt to the size of the nozzle and the upper opening. Measurements are carried out several times. Pedantry will eliminate the need for subsequent revision.
- Using a wrench and a screwdriver, remove the factory-installed valve. Tools must be used carefully. One careless movement is enough for 21213 to require expensive repairs.
- It is recommended to avoid having another heating device in the car. The second stove will not add heat, but it will increase the load on the engine several times.
- The process is completed by installing a new air duct with the engine.
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The heating system of a new model is checked by test switching on. It is recommended to switch modes smoothly. The device must remain on each of them for at least 5-7 minutes. The driver’s task is to make sure that the operation of the system is not accompanied by extraneous noise and vibration.
Original parts vs analogues: practical advice
As mentioned earlier, such a choice does not affect the quality of the heating system. At the same time, car mechanics make several reservations. For those who plan to use VAZ stoves, it would be useful to check the power system. It is different for some modifications. That is why all actions are consistent with the drawings.
It is permissible to use the VAZ 2108 heater, provided that two recommendations are followed. Firstly, the mounting socket is 1-2 cm larger than the size of the device. The additional area will reduce the vibration impact. Secondly, the switch is installed taking into account the specifics of the VAZ heating system. You will have to tinker less when minor modifications to the system are needed.
The ventilation system is updated in 1-2 hours, depending on the degree of wear of the engine.
It’s worse if the factory equipment of a Chevrolet model has manufacturing defects. A complete replacement of the device is recommended. This will save time.
The operation of the heating system determines the comfort and safety of driving. The driver constantly monitors the system's performance. If extraneous noise appears, it is necessary to urgently carry out a technical inspection.
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