Replacing the Lada-Grant gearbox: step-by-step instructions

30.11.2021

Issues discussed in the material:

• Types of Lada-Grant gearboxes.
• The main malfunctions of the Lada-Grant gearbox.
• Step-by-step instructions for replacing the Lada-Grant automatic transmission.
• Approximate prices for replacing a Lada-Grant gearbox.
• Transmission problems on the Lada-Granta and methods for eliminating them, so as not to bring the matter to a replacement.
• Feedback from drivers about replacing the gearbox on a Lada Granta.

Did you know that the average recommended period of operation of a gearbox, especially an automatic one, is from 180 to 200 thousand kilometers. But some drivers need to replace the gearbox earlier; the Lada Granta is a perfect example of this. By the way, the second interesting fact: since 2011, the automatic transmission for this car has been assembled by the Japanese company Jatko.

How does the removal and installation of a new unit take place? Is it possible to make the replacement yourself and, if so, what is needed for this? Detailed instructions and practical recommendations are already waiting for you further.

Types of Lada-Granta gearboxes

"Lada Granta" has gained great popularity among domestic cars. Today AvtoVAZ produces this model with several transmission options: mechanical, hydromechanical automatic, and also robot.

• Manual transmission

This type of gearbox, designated manual transmission, is in great demand on the Lada Granta. Mechanics have a number of advantages, including: cost, reliability and at the same time ease of repair and maintenance.

It should be noted that the Lada Granta was put on the assembly line in 2011, and the first cars were equipped with a VAZ-2180 5-speed manual transmission. After some time, models appeared with an automatic transmission, and a little later - a manual transmission robot.

Continuing the conversation about a manual transmission using cables, the Lada Granta 2181 appeared in the configuration in 2012. A little later it was modernized, since the first option began to cause some problems with active use.

Whatever the manual transmission is called, its basis is the 5-speed gearbox from the VAZ 2108. The first versions of this model were equipped with the 2180 gearbox. It was modified with a shift rod, and the mechanism responsible for selecting the gear was located in its lower part.

The same box could be seen on the Lada-Kalina in its first modifications. Subsequently, VAZ released improved gearboxes 2181 and 2190. A detailed review of the Lada-Grant gearbox shows that its design and some modified elements differ significantly from the original version.

• Automatic transmission

When the Granta appeared on the market in 2012 with an automatic transmission installed on it until 2015, most experts agreed that AvtoVAZ had created a high-quality budget car with an automatic transmission.

The experience of car enthusiasts suggests that these statements are true. The reason for the success is quite simple and lies in the fact that VAZ did not conduct experiments and installed on the Granta a Japanese-made 4-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission, which is familiar to most.

If we go into detail, Granta is equipped with an automatic transmission of the Jatco JF414E type, which can be seen in small-sized models of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, etc. This gearbox is famous for its simplicity, has a torque converter, is highly reliable and can be repaired.

Provided that all maintenance and operation recommendations are followed, it can operate without repair for up to 200 thousand km. But do not forget about timely replacement of transmission fluid every 40-50 thousand km. If everything is great, then you can reach 60 thousand km, but no more. For filling, it is recommended to use original ATF EJ-1 or Matic-S oils.

If you do not pay attention to the high price of the Lada-Grant with automatic transmission and fuel consumption, a larger service check and its frequency, as well as slower acceleration, then nothing more bad can be said about the automatic.

The cause of early failure, as a rule, is the owner himself, who does not follow the rules or aggressively operates the automatic transmission. Forgets to change the oil in the automatic machine on time, saves money by buying inexpensive analogues instead of the original ATF, etc.

Here we should not forget that boxes based on a torque converter do not like slipping (clutches burn out), overheating and high “shock” loads (quick starts, trailers in tow, etc.).

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This also includes leaking oil seals and gaskets, a damaged pan due to its low installation, as well as dirty oil in the automatic transmission due to accelerated wear of the torque converter locking friction linings.

• Robotic gearbox

Considering the negative aspects of automatic transmission and its high cost, which is why the price of such models is much higher, VAZ came to the conclusion that it is worth installing an AMT 2182 robotic gearbox instead of the classic Jatco automatic transmission.

This version of the box appeared on Grant in 2015. It is based on the 2180 manual transmission, but the cables and clutch pedal have been removed and replaced with an electromechanical drive. The developers are German engineers from ZF.

As a result, the Lada Granta with the AMT robot began to consume less fuel, unlike an automatic transmission, accelerate faster, and the bill for transmission maintenance decreased. But the robot is inexpensive and has its drawbacks.

Firstly, an AMT type gearbox does not have the same level of comfort and smooth shifting as an automatic. A single-disc robot, as a rule, switches with jerks, jerks, dips and delays, which is very noticeable with an active driving style.

So, if you are calmly moving in first gear and sharply accelerate, the box “thinks” for a long time, is in no hurry to switch to second, but immediately jumps to third gear, etc. In other words, the automatic mode of a robotic gearbox is unpredictable, which does not allow the driver to actively and move aggressively.

Catalog numbers, bearing names

Replacing an automatic transmission with a manual transmission and vice versa: how justified is it?

The question is ambiguous, since each owner must start from his goals. When it comes to aggressive driving style, drifting, etc., you can’t find a better mechanic.

If you are a supporter of a smooth ride, medium speeds, and fuel economy, then an automatic is the best choice. Although, if you have the skills, you can drive it on the automatic type.

The final choice is up to the owner of the technical device.

Main malfunctions of the Lada-Grant gearbox

To determine the cause of the gearbox malfunction yourself, you need to set the car in motion. Common malfunctions include:

• no gear shift;
• the car moves with roars;
• presence of appropriate light indication;
• oil leaves the transmission.

All these reasons indicate that the gearbox requires immediate repair, and in some cases it may be necessary to replace the Lada-Grant gearbox. The listed automatic transmission malfunctions also apply to the robot. It is a middle option between manual and automatic, which means its breakdowns will also be similar.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing a Lada-Grant automatic transmission

1. We place the car on a viewing hole or overpass. We provide all the necessary safety measures, hold the handbrake.
2. We de-energize the car's on-board network by removing the terminals from the battery, thereby protecting ourselves from a short circuit.
3. Under the hood we dismantle the soundproofing screen.
4. We move the clamp to the side and remove the crankcase ventilation from the outlet on the cylinder head cover.
5. Remove the adsorber pipe from the electronic sensor.

6. Unclench the clamp and remove the hose from the intake manifold and electronics module.
7. Remove the chip from the mass air flow sensor.
8. We dismantle the adsorber valve.
9. Open the cover of the air filter housing, take out the filter, and remove the base of the housing.
10. Remove the chip from the crankshaft speed sensor.
11. Turn the locking ring on the connector counterclockwise.
12. Using a 10mm wrench, unscrew the fastening for selecting automatic transmission operating modes.
13. Unscrew the drive cable and the fastening to the torque converter housing.
14. Using a wheel wrench, unscrew the nuts and remove the front wheels.
15. Remove the plastic protection on the bottom of the car.
16. Unscrew the left and right front mudguard.
17. We pull off the wires from the positive terminal of the starter, having first unscrewed the nuts.
18. We remove the starter.
19. We unscrew the drain plug, substituting a suitable plastic container in advance.
20. Loosen the tightening clamps and remove the pipes from the automatic transmission fittings.
21. We drain the coolant from the radiator.
22. We dismantle the heat shield, unscrew the steering knuckles, ball joints, steering rods, and airbag.

23. Remove the spring washers and disconnect the lower arm bracket assembly. We dismantle the stabilizer bars.
24. We unscrew the bolts, remove the plugs of the torque converter housing cover and the box mountings.
25. We remove the torque converter mount to the flywheel and turn the crankshaft clockwise.
26. We unscrew the bolts securing the box to the cylinder block, and place something under the bottom of the automatic transmission for support.
27. Unscrew the gearbox mount to the body.
28. We dismantle the support bracket assembly.
29. We remove the support, the engine mount to the body part.
30. We unscrew the nuts and unscrew the studs securing the gearbox to the cylinder block.

After this, we remove the box from its normal place, moving it slightly to the side. We move the machine to a convenient place, securely fix it and begin maintenance. If there are signs of wear, then we replace the seals and other consumables with new ones.

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At this point, the work on independently replacing the Lada-Grant gearbox is completed.

How to remove a VAZ-2107 gearbox yourself

Before you begin dismantling the gearbox, you should prepare the tools and materials that may be required during the work, and also decide on the location for disassembly.

You can remove it (it’s even easier for one person - no one gets in the way), put a board across the hole, and drag the box onto this board. But it’s probably very difficult to stick one in, the problem is not even the weight of the gearbox, but putting the gearbox on the shaft so that the box “sits”

[x]

https://www.lada-forum.ru/index.php?showtopic=49447

What tools will you need?

To remove and replace the VAZ-2107 gearbox you will need:

• a set of open-end and ring wrenches, among which there must be keys for 10, 13, 19;
• a set of sockets of the same size as the keys, as well as cardan joints with an extension;
• pliers, screwdrivers, tweezers;
• funnel and container for oil;
• jack and wooden beams;
• rags.

Approximate prices for replacing a Lada-Grant gearbox

For complex work on replacing a Lada-Grant gearbox, the cost of repairs is calculated based on the price of a standard hour.

For plumbing work, the standard hour is 900 rubles. average.

How to remove the gear knob on LADA cars (manual transmission, AMT or robot, automatic transmission)

AvtoVAZ equips its cars with three types of transmissions: manual transmission (manual transmission), AMT or “robot” (automated transmission) and automatic transmission (automatic transmission). We'll tell you how to replace the gear knob on a LADA in detail.

1. Old manual transmission . On VAZ cars of the “tenth family”, and then on Lada Priora with “mechanics”, the handle was very difficult to remove. First, we lift the cover (we remove the clamps from engagement with the tunnel using a screwdriver). The handle on the metal lever sits very tightly, because... there is a groove inside it.

How to remove the manual transmission handle on a Priora and VAZ 2110 How to remove the manual transmission handle on a Priora and VAZ 2110 How to remove the manual transmission handle on a Priora and VAZ 2110

To remove the handle, you need to pull it upward with force; if necessary, heat the part with a hairdryer.

Similarly, we remove the gear knob on the Lada Largus:

Removing the gear shift lever rod on a LADA 4×4 car (Niva 2121 and 2131). We lift the handle up a little and use a flat screwdriver to snap off the petals of the plastic lock, removing them from the ring groove of the lever.

To remove the manual transmission handle on the Lada XRAY, you need to forcefully pull it up.

3. Jatco automatic transmission . In August 2012, sales of LADA cars with Jatco automatic transmission began. To remove the handle, you must first lift the casing up and remove the two screws securing the mount to the rod. Then, on the bottom right side, disconnect the white wire that goes to the O/D button. By the way, the automatic transmission handle can be shortened.

How to remove the automatic transmission handle on Lada Granta and Kalina 2 How to remove the automatic transmission handle on Lada Granta and Kalina 2

4. AMT or “robot” . In March 2022, AvtoVAZ began producing cars with robotic transmissions. Here the action scheme is the same as on the old “mechanics” - we pull the handle up strongly. By the way, the books also don’t write how to remove the tunnel lining near the AMT lever.

How to remove the AMT handle or robot on the Lada Granta, Kalina 2, Priora, Vesta or XRAY How to remove the AMT handle or robot on the Lada Granta, Kalina 2, Priora, Vesta or XRAY

Let us remind you that recently many LADA car enthusiasts have been installing a gear knob from Vesta on their Grants, Kalinas and Prioras.

Transmission problems on the Lada-Granta and methods for eliminating them, so as not to bring the matter to a replacement

The first step is to determine the disadvantages of a manual transmission as the most inexpensive and most in demand type of transmission on these cars. All shortcomings and ways to eliminate them are given below.

1. Extraneous sounds during transmission operation

• Severe wear of gear teeth - replace gears.
• Bearings are worn out - replace bearings.
• Low oil level - top up the oil and get rid of the leak if there is one.

1. You have to make an effort when changing gears

• Incomplete disengagement of the clutch – get rid of clutch malfunctions.
• The gearshift drive rod is deformed - straighten the rods.
• The fastenings of the mechanisms are loose - tighten the fastenings.
• The drive is not adjusted - adjust the drive.
• Plastic drive elements have failed - replace worn parts.

1. Automatic gear deactivation

• Wear of synchronizer teeth on the gear - replace worn elements.
• Failure of the engine mounts - replace the mounts.
• The adjustment of the gear shift mechanism drive is incorrect - adjust the drive.

1. Unusual sounds when shifting gears

• The clutch does not disengage - adjust the clutch, eliminate the malfunction.
• The ring blocking the synchronizer is worn out - replace the ring.

1. Oil is leaking

• Wear of seals - check the condition of all seals in the gearbox and replace those that have become unusable.
• The fastening of the crankcase, gearbox cover, drain plug is loose - tighten the loose elements, replace the sealant if necessary.

Transmission malfunctions often occur due to improper clutch operation. Various breakdowns manifest themselves with a variety of symptoms. Detailed and more careful diagnostics can be carried out only after removing the gearbox and completely disassembling it to determine the causes.

If you are a beginner and do not know how this unit works, then it is better for you not to engage in repairs. The gearbox is a complex mechanism and consists of many parts. Unskilled replacement of a Lada-Grant gearbox with a cable drive can lead to even greater problems, and in extreme cases, to the complete failure of this unit.

When contacting a car service center, you must remember that not all mechanics are qualified enough, and the cost of repairing a Lada-Grant gearbox can be very high.

Preparing for replacement

First the box needs to be warmed up. Then they place the car on the pit, stop it and try to remove one plug. We are talking about the control plug (key “17”).

If nothing happens with the plug, you will have to change the oil without supervision. This is no longer good. Try unscrewing the switch located on the top of the crankcase.

The oil volume in the Lada Granta gearbox is known to everyone - it is 2.3 liters. But it is still better to perform the replacement with control. Filling is done either through the control hole or through the switch hole. Access to the latter is blocked by a filter.

Filter housing operation

First, disconnect the “negative” terminal (key “10”). Then you can use a regular Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the mounting screws.

The thin clamp that secures the expansion tank hose is also removed (see photo).

Disconnect a couple of connectors: the mass air flow sensor and the adsorber valve connector. The first of them is oval (photo below). And the second one is turned off like this: tighten the tongue, remove the terminal block.

The filter housing can be moved to the side in the final step. There is no need to disconnect it from the corrugation.

Rubber fasteners can be defeated this way: the rubber band is held with pliers, and the body is pulled back (to the left, forward). Start with the right front support.

Drivers' reviews about replacing the gearbox on a Lada Granta

• Better to change to manual

“We bought an automatic so that my wife could drive, and it was easier for me, since I didn’t have to switch myself. But what if it fails, I wouldn’t want to spend 75 thousand on a new machine. If it is possible to install the mechanics without any problems, I would change it.”

• The flywheel must match the box

“Well, so I changed the automatic transmission to a manual one. The analysis took only 3-4 hours. I collected everything in one day (this is if you know about all the nuances). At the disassembly, I paid 18.5 thousand rubles for everything: manual transmission 2181, drives, flywheel, pedal unit, rocker with cables, starter, cushions with brackets, rear right light (it was broken on mine), clutch disc, basket and clutch cable .

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When purchasing all these parts, select them so as to take into account the following points:

• The flywheel should fit into the box, the crown should be located on the back side of the clutch basket. I took the wrong one, I had to spend money on another one for 3.5 thousand rubles.
• Right-hand drive. It's not clear at all here. The seller said that it was from Kalina and would definitely fit, but on the first day it flew out due to insufficient length. In the official store they showed the assembled Kalinovsky - one to one!? They began to measure and check and found the right shaft (a stick with splines) from Kalina, according to the catalog it fits the Grant. And he turned out to be longer than everyone by about 2 cm. I bought it for 2.4 thousand rubles.
• Bracket with a left cushion, in which there is a hole for the clutch cable, and a bracket for fastening the cable. I bought the wrong one. Total + 0.7 t.r.

I also spent money on a release lever (I decided it was better to install a new one) and a metal gasket between the gearbox and the engine. I don’t remember how much I gave.”

• I have been actively using the car for two years now.

“The other day I went for a scheduled maintenance, the mechanic said that everything was fine with the transmission. Changed consumables, filter, oil. I have been actively using the car for two years now. The manufacturer assures that before major repairs you can drive 180-200 km. Let’s see how well this corresponds to reality.”

So, now you know how to replace the Lada-Grant gearbox, as well as what main malfunctions occur in it. Let this information help you troubleshoot all problems in a timely manner and drive in comfort!