VAZ 2109 engine: characteristics, repair and tuning

VAZ 2109 injection engine

The VAZ 2109 injection engine is not new. Since 1994, such units have been installed on cars of the Lada family. As you know, there have always been supporters and opponents of both carburetor and injection options. On the VAZ 2109, injection engine starting means less harmful emissions into the environment, better dynamics at high speeds and much more. From this publication you will learn not only the difference between both types of engine, but also receive valuable tips on how to change a carburetor unit to an injection unit with your own hands. So, both units have more than enough advantages. Before choosing which engine to choose for your “nine”, it is recommended to decide in what mode the car is operated most of the time. All this is of considerable importance.

Characteristics

One of the most common cars in the CIS countries, the VAZ 2109, began to be produced back in 1988. Despite the already quite old age of this car model, it is still popular among the population of our country. The main difference between the VAZ 2109 and its predecessor 2108 is five doors instead of four and a more spacious body. The VAZ 2109 engine was also replaced. Thanks to these innovations, this car began to be positioned as a Soviet family car.

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OPTIONS	MEANING
Fuel used in VAZ 2109	Petrol
Power supply to the motor	Carburetor	Distributed injection
Cylinder (its diameter in mm)	82	82
Piston stroke	71	71
Maximum compression rate	9.9	9.9
Fuel capacity (engine volume), cm 3	1499	1499
Engine power, kW/rpm	68/5600	78/5400
Torque - maximum value, Nm at rpm	100 / 3400	116 / 3000
Gasoline standards	AI-92	AI-95
Waste on gasoline when driving in urban conditions, l/100km	8.7	9.9
Vehicle speed, km/h	154	155
Acceleration of a car to a speed of 100 km/h, s	14	13
Gearbox operation type	With manual control
Transmission levels	5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel tank capacity	43	43

This motor is suitable for use in VAZ 2108 and VAZ 2109 cars.

Injector advantages

Having considered the disadvantages of the carburetor, one cannot help but ignore the positive aspects of the injection engine. Among the obvious advantages are the following:

fully complies with the requirements of environmental legislation on emissions into the atmosphere;
engine power increases significantly (especially at high speeds);
servicing the injector is much cheaper;
fuel consumption is reduced (up to 6 liters per 100 km);
It is possible to install gas cylinder equipment (GBO).

Description

The technical characteristics at that time were standard: a 1.1-liter engine, a carburetor in the mechanisms, a maximum power of 54 horsepower.

After some time, models of this car with an improved engine began to appear on sale. The main changes include a larger engine volume, increased to 1.5 liters, and an engine temperature sensor, and in the early 2000s, models with an injector entered mass production. It is also possible to perform engine tuning in the VAZ 2109, which allows you to obtain improved performance for relatively little waste.

The main advantage of this machine was its fairly cheap maintenance, which was typical for any of the production machines.

Even after the end of the warranty period, keeping the car in good condition was quite simple and did not require any special expenses, the main thing was to change the oil regularly. And thanks to the prevalence of this range of models, it is quite easy to find replacement parts for broken ones both in car repair shops and in the hands of motorists.

Due to the simplicity of the design, many owners thought about what kind of engine they could install to improve the car’s performance. In order to repair or tune a VAZ 2109 engine, you do not have to be a car mechanic.

Almost any driver can do all the work with his own hands. That is why most owners of this car want to drive this model, which is cheap both to repair and to operate, for as long as possible. Tuning the VAZ 2109 engine is also easy.

Checking injectors and timing belt

When there is a spark and its color is bright bluish, check the fuel supply: turn out the injectors and turn the engine shaft with the starter. The fuel should be sprayed from the nozzle in a uniform cone-shaped “torch”. If instead the injector pours gasoline or splashes it, then it is clogged.

If the tested components are working, then look at the timing belt. Owners of the injection “nine” have more than once encountered the situation of the belt slipping by several teeth. In winter, this can happen when starting a cold engine when the camshaft rotates heavily. To check, look at the timing mark. If it matches, check the crankshaft sensor and its wire (sometimes it comes off). Then the remaining sensors are checked.

Malfunctions

The engine does not start. There is no fuel supplied to the carburetor or not enough fuel is supplied. The following problems may be causing this problem:

Causes	How to fix the problem
Foreign objects and debris got into the fuel line, which led to severe blockage. The fuel pump, carburetor filter, fuel line may be clogged.	Carry out a complete cleaning of the fuel supply systems to the engine. This can be done either with water pressure or with compressed air.
Failure of the pump supplying fuel to the engine.	Conduct a full diagnostics of the pump, identify the breakdown, and replace the faulty part with a working one.
Foreign objects or debris have entered the fuel filter.	Cleaning the filter yourself is quite difficult and time-consuming. It is much cheaper and faster to replace it with a new one.
Ignition problems. The engine starts poorly or does not start at all.	Conduct diagnostics of the ignition system, seek help from specialists. Partial or complete disassembly of the VAZ 2109 engine may help find the fault.

Problems and malfunctions during operation of the solenoid valve. This part is part of the carburetor and affects the ignition process, which is why its breakdown leads to the following troubles

Causes	How to fix the problem
Broken or damaged wiring. This problem affects the operation of the valve control unit, which leads to faulty fuel supply and reduces the power of the VAZ 2109 engine.	Carry out a full check of each circuit, find the damaged wire, replace it with a intact one, and check the operation of the system.
The solenoid valve control unit does not work.	In this case, replacing or repairing it yourself is risky due to the complex structure of the device. It is advisable to entrust repairs to specialists.
During the initial operating cycle of the engine, the carburetor air damper does not operate, which should open at the first flashes in the engine cylinders.	The cause of this breakdown may be depressurization of the starting device in the carburetor.

Engine problems

Causes	How to fix the problem
The idle speed of the engine is difficult to adjust and does not work properly. The engine is breathing.	In this case, you will need to carry out a complete setup and adjustment of the idle speed. Disassembling the VAZ 2109 engine also helps to identify the fault.
The system responsible for controlling the carburetor solenoid valve is faulty or partially broken.	Carry out a full check of each circuit, find the damaged wire, replace it with a intact one, and check the operation of the system.

Problems in the operation of the VAZ 2109 carburetor engine

Causes	How to fix the problem
The carburetor does not work due to severe contamination of the channels or jet.	The mentioned parts of the carburetor are cleaned using compressed air. It is important to control the air supply to prevent damage.
Liquid has entered the carburetor or jet.	Also, use compressed air to clean carburetor systems from residual liquid. Check the fuel tank for sediment and drain if necessary.
The starting device does not work due to depressurization of the system. The trigger diaphragm is broken. This may reduce the productivity of the VAZ 2109 engine.	Check for damage to the diaphragm, replace if a malfunction is detected.
Problems with the ignition system. Complete or partial inoperability.	Carrying out diagnostics of the ignition system, replacing faulty parts with new ones.
Air entering the brake booster compartment. This usually happens due to a torn vacuum hose. Such a breakdown affects the performance of the econometer, ignition distributor and vacuum regulator-sensor.	Check the hose, find damage and repair it. You can also completely replace the hose. It is necessary to pay attention to the mounting clamps; if necessary, they should be tightened.
Damage to the gasket in the intake manifold connections. Such a breakdown leads to air leaks into the intake manifold. Affects the performance of the carburetor and engine of the VAZ 2109.	Check for damage to the intake pipe. Tighten all nuts. If this does not help, then most likely you will need to replace the gaskets with new ones.

Rework

To replace a carburetor with an injector yourself, be sure to arm yourself with the following components:

Cylinder head from VAZ 2112 with receiver and manifolds;
Knock sensor;
Throttle pipe with throttle position sensor;
Mass air flow sensor and a number of other elements.

Replacement kit
When everything is ready, you can get to work.

Remove the old cylinder head. Plus, remove all attachments in the fuel assembly, gas tank and ignition system.
Remove the alternator, thermostat, pulleys and belts.
Install a new gas tank with a pump, borrowed from a donor - an injection VAZ.
Remove the carburetor and ignition system components that need to be replaced.
Disconnect the cooling system pipes and hoses. Here, install a completely new kit from the injector.
Remove the pan.
Install new pistons from an injection donor and connecting rods at 10. Standard carburetor components are not designed for an injection compression ratio. Plus there are special recesses for other valves.
Install a new unit with an underflow on the cover for the DPKV, replacing the standard oil pump. If you can remove the cover, then only that will be replaced.
After removing the old cooling system pipes, install new ones. The best solution is to replace the entire set. Buying it won't really impact your overall budget.
Prepare everything necessary to mount the 16 valve head. The fasteners match, only the bolts from the old head are long and need to be shortened. Plus, don’t forget to make a size 12 hole in the new head.
Install new fuel lines from the donor.
Connect your new gas tank to the lines.
Route the wiring from the control unit to the fuel pump. You can use old fuel level regulators from a carburetor car.
Cut a hole in the wall of the engine compartment through which the wiring will be routed. This way you won't have to make the standard wires longer.
Install the knock sensor by drilling a hole in the block and tapping a size 8 thread.
Be sure to replace the water pump using a unit from donor 2112.
Get a new crankcase breather and oil dipstick. Install them instead of the previous ones.
Install a new cylinder head. Just don't forget to change the gasket, which corresponds to a different head.
Install a thermostat borrowed from a VAZ 2112.
Connect the coolant pipes.
Remove the rear timing cover and rollers. The pulleys from 2112 are dismantled. The belt must be installed in accordance with the marks.
Install the new generator along with the drive. For the new generator, the upper fasteners will remain intact, since they are not provided for by the design of the carburetor VAZ 2109. Therefore, fasten the pair of lower mounting bolts as securely as possible.
Place all the sensors in their new places.
Seal the valve covers with a good quality sealant.
Assemble the ignition module, wires, spark plugs and other components.
Install the air filter.
Get your exhaust system back to normal. The muffler is often left stock, but the resonator and other components are taken from the donor.
The wiring is connected to the dashboard and the lock.
Fill in new oil, refuel the car with high-quality fuel.
Start the engine and take it for a test drive.

What you can get

By converting the carburetor into an injection car, you can get improved technical and dynamic characteristics. We offer you a comparison of the parameters of the two motors.

Domestic cars do not have an ideal design, but they provide a lot of opportunities for successful modification of many components and endless tuning. That's why the VAZ-2109 is considered a good option for those who like to repair, modernize and make their dream car come true.

In skillful hands, the good old “nine” will sparkle with new colors, and all this can be done with your own hands in your own garage.