АВТОВАЗ VAZ2121 User Manual

Driver s Manual for the Niva 1600

(Vaz 2121 series)

Operator s Manual

This Manual contains a description of the Lada Niva car, description of its’ parts, driving tips
and specifications. This Manual was scanned from an original Manual supplied with a 1989
Niva 1600. Some details may have changed for subsequent Niva models, notably the Niva
1700 Bushmaster. This Manual complements the Niva Maintenance Manual which I
produced in early 1998. This Manual provides information useful for everyday drivers of the
Niva such as descriptions of buttons, gauges, switches etc. There is also a good description of
the car s appointments for the prospective driver.

The Manual is intended to provide a replacement Manual for owners of Lada Nivas who were
not provided with a Manual when purchasing their car. It is not an extra Manual and does not
contain any information other than what is contained in the original driver s Manual (except
for a few comments I have added and the table of contents). It has been designed to print
double sided - hence the arrangements of the wider inner margins.

The Manual contains the following sections:

Introduction

A brief description of the car

Important notices

Information about practices and procedures that must be adhered to, to ensure optimal
performance of the car over a long time. Contains do s and dont s of driving a Niva.

Description

This section contains description of parts of the Niva 1600 - (Vaz 2121). Explanations are
given of what things are, not necessarily how they work.

Instruments and Controls

Gives a detailed explanation of how to use all of the instruments and controls on the car
dashboard, steering wheel and central panel.

Appointments

Explains the use of such things as rear-vision mirrors, ventilation, heating, ash-tray,
doors(window-wipers, opening etc), adjusting seats, tail-gate and opening the hood.

Operating instructions

This section provides advice and instructions on how to drive the car - including advice on
how to start the engine in particularly cold weather.

' 1989 - 1999. You may freely print as many copies of this manual for your own use only as you wish
provided that you own a Lada Niva. You may not copy, modify, print or in any other way distribute this
manual for a profit or cost. You may not charge may money what-so-ever including; copying, printing, paper or
others costs for this manual. This manual may not be stored on shareware CD-Roms, web-sites other than
Galactic Niva or other storage medium. Galactic Niva

(http://members.tripod.com/~vaz2121/niva/index.htm).

Support a starving Uni student today!
Send cheques / money / postcards to:

Jason Chapman
3/125 Grange Rd

E-mail: [e-mail]

Glen Huntly 3163
Victoria, Australia

Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.........................................2

IMPORTANT NOTICES.............................2

DESCRIPTION............................................6

IDENTIFICATION DATA ...........................6

LUBRICATING SYSTEM..................................7

FUEL SYSTEM.............................................7

Crankcase breathing system......................7

Cooling system....................................... 7

IGNITION SYSTEM........................................7

EXHAUST SYSTEM. ...................................... 7

TRANSMISSION ...........................................8

Clutch. .................................................8

Gearbox................................................8

Transfer case. ........................................ 8

Propeller shafts...................................... 8

Front axle. ............................................8

Rear axle...............................................8

SUSPENSION...............................................8

Front suspension. ................................... 8

Rear suspension. ....................................8

STEERING GEAR AND WHEELS.......................8

Steering gear. ........................................8

Wheels ..................................................9

Tyres....................................................9

BRAKES ....................................................9

Service brakes ........................................9

Parking brake ........................................9

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ............................ 11

Storage battery..................................... 11

Alternator ........................................... 11

Voltage regulator ................................. 11

Starter................................................ 11

Car radio............................................ 11

Windshield wiper.................................. 11

Heater motor ....................................... 11

Ignition switch..................................... 11

External lighting and light signalling

system................................................. 11

Instrument panel................................... 11

Bulbs.................................................. 11

BODY ..................................................... 12

Car appointments: ................................ 12

Ventilation and heating. ........................ 12

Keys ................................................... 12

Air Conditioning.................................. 12

INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS............. 13

1. Headlight switch lever. ...................... 13

2. direction indicator switch lever. .......... 14

3. Ignition switch. ................................ 14

Anti-theft lock ...................................... 14

6 windshield wiper switch lever. ............. 14

11. parking brake lever. ......................... 16

15 map shelf........................................ 16

19 swivelling air deflectors.....................16

20 air intake port cover control lever........16

21 heater cock control lever. ...................16

22 heater fan three position switch. ......... 16

23 back window wiper and washer switch. 16

24 external lighting switch. ....................16

25 choke control knob. ...........................16

28 coolant temperature gauge. ................17

29 brake fluid low level warning lamp......17

30 transfer differential lock warning lamp 17

34 headlight upper beam warning lamp ....17

35 direction indicator warning lamp ........ 17

36 marker light warning lamp................. 17

37 trip counter resetting.........................17

38 tachometer.......................................17

39 choke warning lamp .......................... 17

40 battery no charge warning lamp..........18

61 parking brake warning lamp...............18

43 low oil pressure warning lamp ...........18

45 low fuel warning lamp ...................... 18

46 instrument lighting switch..................18

49 headlight wiper switch. .....................18

50 back window heater switch.................18

51 cigarette lighter................................ 19

52 rear fog lamp switch ......................... 19

53 emergency flasher warning light switch.19

APPOINTMENTS.......................................20

Sun visors............................................ 20

Rear view mirrors ................................. 20

VENTILATION AND HEATING.......................20

Windshield Demisting............................21

Heating...............................................21

DOORS ....................................................22

SEATS .....................................................22

Engine hood.........................................23

Installing the number plates....................23

Fuel tank cap .......................................23

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS...................24

Starting the engine from cold..................24

Starting from Hot .................................24

MOVING OFF......................................24

DRIVING HINTS .........................................25

Stopping and parking the car..................25

Running in........................................... 26

Seat belts............................................. 26

Adjusting the spark advance angle ...........27

Towing the car.....................................27

TABLES....................................................29

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS AND DIMENSIONS.... 29

ENGINE ...................................................31

FILLING CAPACITIES. LITRES ......................31

MAIN ADJUSTMENT AND TEST DATA ............32

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

INTRODUCTION

The VAZ2121 is a comfortable, high speed, all wheel drive, cross country, economy car
intended to carry passengers and loads on paved roads of any kind and on dirt roads. The car
design makes it possible to operate the car at ambient temperatures ranging from plus 45"C
down to minus 40 "C.

The advanced design and use of high quality lubricants ensure reliable engine starting at low
ambient temperatures down to minus 25"C without a starting pre-heater. If the car is to be
operated at ambient temperatures below minus 25"C, it should be kept in a warm garage to
ensure reliable starting of the engine. A double circuit brake system incorporating a low brake
fluid level warning device and a rear brake pressure regulator comply with the modern safety
standards for passenger cars.

High operating properties and dependability, long service life and low labour input in
maintenance largely depend upon strict observance of the operating and servicing rules.

The present Manual contains basically a description of the VAZ2121 car, whereas the
design features VAZ21212 car are given in a separate chapter.

Inasmuch as the design of the VAZ cars is being constantly perfected, some units and
mechanisms may somewhat differ from those described in the present Manual.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Prior to starting the regular operation of the car the Owner is invited to carefully
study the present Manual.

The excellent performance of the car will become more conspicuous and its life will be
considerably longer if the Owner strictly adheres to the recommendations laid down below.

The comfortable car is easy to steer and exhibits high spurt and speed capabilities on the road
which fact ranks the car with ordinary passenger cars. However, it differs from them in its
cross-country ability on slushy dirt roads, sand and snow. Nevertheless, the Owner should
always remember that the car is not intended for constant operation un der heavy road
conditions.

If the car is driven in heavy sections of the road (on mud or sand), wash the car carefully and
examine the following parts more frequently than usual:

• Front wheel hub seals and lubricant

• Front brake friction pads;

• Protective rubber boots of the suspension ball supports, steering rod joints, and front

wheel drive joints. If the boot is damaged, water and mud penetrate into the joint, causing
its abnormal wear and failure. A damaged boot should be immediately replaced with a new
one.

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

After negotiating a deep (0.5 m) ford, check before a trip for water in the power transmission
units. Do it by loosening the drain plugs until drops appear. Oil drops indicate that there is no
water in the unit.

Do not overload the car in excess of the specified limits. Overloading results in damage of the
front suspension elements, bending of the rear axle beam, premature wear of the tyres,
vibration of the body end loss of road stability. The mass of the load on the roof luggage
carrier (including that of the carrier) should not excess 50 kg with the payload not exceeding
400 kg.

Elastic suspension of the car absorbs vibrations when driving speedily on bad roads. Sharp
jolts, how ever, may cause deformation of the lower wishbone shafts and damage other parts
of the Therefore, when driving roads, do not speed up and avoid striking the curb-stones.

Do not lock the differential at the moment of slipping of both wheels of one of the car
driving axles. Lock the differential in advance, taking into consideration the road conditions.
Upon negotiating the difficult sections, unlock the differential since driving along good roads
with the differential locked running gear. on such shortens the life of the power
transmission mechanisms, and increases the tyre wear and fuel consumption; when
braking. the car may go skidding. The differential locking is in dictated by the warning lamp

on the instrument panel.

The engine, gearbox, transfer case, front and rear axles of the Ear should be lubricated only
with the oils recommended by the Manufacturer (refer to Appendix 2). The use of oils of
other grades will result in premature failure of said units and mechanisms.

The engine is designed to run on gasoline with an octane number not lower than 91.
Operation on gasoline with lower octane numbers is not allowed. Red-orange tinted gasoline
AN-93 is ethylated. Ethylated gasoline is poisonous, therefore keep it off the hands, skin,
clothes and upholstery. Any operations which could result in penetration of ethylated
gasoline or its vapours into the mouth are particularly intolerable.

Never use the starter to move the car from rest. Move off only in the 1st gear. If the engine
fails to run after three attempts to start it, check the fuel system or ignition system, and
eliminate the cause of poor engine starting.

Do not apply the starter with the engine running, since that may lead to breakage of the
starter pinion or flywheel teeth.

Never race the engine to the speed bringing the tachometer pointer in the red zone of the
scale. If the tachometer pointer is found within the yellow zone, the engine speed approaches
the maximum permissible limit (the edge of the red zone).

Bear in mind that exhaust gases are poisonous. Therefore, the premises where the engine is
started and warmed up should be properly ventilated.

Do not operate the car with the low engine oil pressure warning lamp glowing.

Lighting up of this lamp is permissible at the minimum idling speed. On increasing the engine
speed, the lamp must go off. Glowing of the lamp at the engine service speeds indicates

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

insufficient oil pressure in the engine lubricating system. Extremely important! Never run

the car with the low oil pressure warning lamp on! This will cause rapid engine
wear which will cease the engine resulting in total engine destruction!

Take care of the tyre pressure since driving on under inflated tyres results in their premature

wear and impairs car stability and steerability.

When on the move, do not turn the ignition key to position III PARKING

(CTORHKA) as it may result in locking the steering shaft by the antitheft device, thus
making the car non-steerable. Prior to moving off, check the parking brake lever position;
start motion only with the lever all the way down. While in motion, do not switch off the
ignition, since the brake vacuum booster becomes inoperative when the engine is
stopped, and the force to be applied to the brake pedal rises considerably. The car is

fitted with highly effective front disc brakes. However, their long service life can be ensured
only with due care. Prevent accumulation of dirt in the brake mechanisms, and wash them after
driving in deep mud.

If one of the brake circuits fails, braking of the car will be ensured by the other. The trouble,
however, results in longer travel of the brake pedal and lower braking efficiency; at the first
instant that even may be taken for complete failure of the brakes. Do not release the brake
pedal in this case nor depress it repeatedly, since that will only result in lengthening the
braking time and distance; instead, press the pedal until the maximum possible braking effect is
attained.

With the engine inoperative, never leave the ignition turned on, as this will discharge the
storage battery and damage the ignition system units.

To ensure normal functioning of the lighting and signalling systems, make use of the electric
bulbs specified in Appendix 1.

To prevent damage to the alternator rectifier, proceed as follows:

• When installing the storage battery on the car, see to it that the wires are connected in

compliance with the polarity signs stamped on the wire clamps and battery terminals (the
positive terminal is larger then the negative one). The storage battery must be connected to
terminal "30" of the alternator only by the positive wire (wire lug marked " + ");

• When the storage battery installed in the car is being slave charged from an external source,

be sure that the battery is disconnected from the alternator; do not check the alternator
serviceability by short-circuiting its terminal "30" to the ground or to terminal "67" (to
check for sparking);

• Do not operate the alternator unless its terminal "30" is connected to the battery.

The car is equipped with an ignition coil that has no series resistor. Therefore, do not short­circuit its terminals to facilitate starting the engine with the starting crank, as it will damage the
moving contact spring of the ignition distributor breaker and ruin the ignition switch contact
block.

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

To prevent blowing of the fuse and damage to the voltage regulator contacts, observe the

following rules:

• Do not check the voltage regulator for serviceability by short circuiting its terminals "15"

and "67"

• Do not interchange the wires running to terminals "67" and "15";

• Do not interchange the wire intended for connection to terminal "67" of the alternator and

the wire intended for connection with the alternator star center (non-marked terminal);

• Do not connect any noise suppressing capacitors to terminal "67"

When a layer of ice or snow on the roll down windows hampers their movement, do not

apply much force to rotate the window regulator mechanism.

When on the move, never try to set the trip counter to zero. Such attempt will result in its

breakdown.

Reliability of your car depends on strict observance of the service rules outlined in
the Manual and on strict adherence to the intervals and scope of preventive
maintenance operations.

The VAZ2121 car and its versions are noted for an original design of the front wheel drive,
transfer case and other units and parts. Therefore, the Manufacturer recommends that
preventive maintenance of the car is performed at the service stations whose addresses will be
advised to the Owner on purchasing the car.
In repairs, be sure that use is made only of the spares which are supplied by V/O
"Zapchastexport" When ordering the spares, please state their Catalogue number and name.

Notes:

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

DESCRIPTION

This section contains description of parts of the Niva 1600 - (Vaz 2121). Explanations are
given of what things are, not necessarily how they work. See the Instruments and controls
section for information on how to operate them - Jason. [e-mail]

IDENTIFICATION DATA

Identification number of the car is indented
on a non-detachable plate secured on the
instrument panel (Fig. 1) at the left hand side.
The plate is installed to special order.

Model and number of the engine are
indented on a boss of the cylinder block located
above the oil filter.

Model and number of the body are indented
on the upper reinforcement member of the
dashboard. The summary nameplate and the
plate with international approval signs are
secured on the dashboard.

The summary nameplate contains the following
data arranged from. top to bottom:

• Abbreviated name of the manufacturing plant;

• The first three letters of the next line are the coded designations of a geographic zone,

country and manufacturing plant (X-Europe, T-USSR, A-Volga Automobile Plant);

The following six digits designate the car model;

• The next Latin letter is the coded designation of a year of car manufacture;

• The last seven digits stand for a chassis number (on a car it corresponds to the body

number);

• Officially approved gross mass of the car;

• Officially approved gross mass of the car and trailer equipped with brakes;

• Officially approved load on the front axle;

• Officially approved load on the rear axle; engine model and Serial No. of the car.

The plate with international approval signs contains the following data:

Car model;

Sign E states that the car has been tested and it meets the Safety Code Standards worked out
by the United Nations European Economic Commission (UNEEC);

The digit adjacent to the sign E is a coded designation of the country in which the car has
been tested for conformity to the Safety Code Standards (2 France);

The left hand column of the plate contains the numbers of the UNEEC Safety Codes while
the numbers of the official approval are given in the right hand column.

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Lada Niva Driver s Manual Jason Chapman

Lubricating system.

The system is of combination (splash-and-force) type: bearings of crankshaft, camshaft and
accessory drive shaft are force-lubricated; cylinders, valve gear and its drive are splash­lubricated, A gear oil pump with an oil intake strainer and a reducing valve in the cover is
located in the engine sump. A quick-change full flow oil filter has a filter element made of
special cardboard.

Fuel system.

An emulsion type, two barrel, down draft carburettor has a pneumatically controlled
secondary throttle, balanced float chamber, crankcase fume recirculation system,
pneumatically controlled economiser, diaphragm type acceleration pump, independent idling
system and a gauze filter at fuel inlet; the choke is fitted with a diaphragm mechanism for cold
engine starting. An air cleaner is fitted with a replaceable element made of special cardboard
and a synthetic wool pre-cleaner. An additional oil bath air cleaner is installed to special order.
A diaphragm type fuel pump is provided with a gauze filter and a hand priming lever.

Crankcase breathing system.

The system is closed type, with an oil separator and a flame arrester.

Cooling system.

The system is sealed, liquid type with a translucent expansion tank. A solid filled thermostat
in a one piece housing is hose connected to the cooling system. A six blade plastic fan fitted on
the centrifugal water pump shaft is driven by a V-belt from the crankshaft pulley.

Ignition system.

The system is battery operated, with a rated voltage of 12 V. The ignition distributor is
provided with centrifugal and vacuum spark timers driven from the accessory drive shaft.
Ignition coil B-117 or B-117A has no series resistor. Spark plugs A17L~B, FE65P and high
tension wires with resistors suppressors in the boots or high tension wires FE65CPR with
built in resistors suppressors and high tension wires without the resistors suppressors in the
boots. The spark plugs have thread MCO M14X1.256E and 19mm reach. The initial spark
advance angle is set by marks on the crankshaft pulley and timing gear cover.

Exhaust system.

The system is provided with two successively mounted mufflers, with the tail exhaust pipe
at the car rear. To special order the exhaust system is equipped with an exhaust gas
recirculation system.

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