Lada Kalina heater switch repair

The principle of operation of the heating system in Lada Kalina

Before you independently look for a problem in the car’s heating system, you should study the principle of its operation.

The heating system control unit analyzes the data received from the ceiling temperature sensor. After this, he compares the obtained parameters with those set by the driver on the stove panel. If the difference in readings deviates by approximately 2 degrees, the heater control unit sends a command to the micro-gearbox. The latter, in turn, opens and closes the heater dampers, through which a heated air flow enters the cabin.

For this reason, if in a Lada Kalina a hot or cold stream of air is blowing from the heater, it does not matter how the knob is installed on the heater panel - it is worth checking the cabin temperature sensor.

In addition, quite often problems with the stove can appear due to the car’s engine cooling system. We advise you to check the antifreeze level in the expansion tank. If it is insufficient, it is necessary to add coolant to the normal level.

It is worth noting that in winter, many drivers deliberately leave antifreeze at the minimum level, due to which in cold times the heating system begins to blow warm air faster.

How to adjust the heater damper on a Lada Kalina?

The first step is to adjust the heater valve.

Remove the bracket that holds the cable sheath to the faucet body.
Remove the cable from the faucet lever.
Open the tap to the maximum.
Unhook the cable from the lever block.
Remove the old cable.
In the future, the tap may not be closed at all.

If you don’t like the method described above, you can use another one:

Adjust the length of the sheath and cable so that in the extreme right position of the lever on the block the tap opens completely.
Secure the cable located in this state using a latch.

Then we proceed directly to adjusting the heater damper.

Remove the bracket that holds the cable sheath on the heater body and feel for the yellow galvanized lever located on the left.
Pull the lever towards you - this will be the maximum open state.
Adjust the length of the cable so that in the right position of the long lever on the lever block the valve is open to the maximum.
Lock it in.
Do not forget that with the help of one lever both dampers are simultaneously controlled: both the tap and the large one.

Definitely, the heater in the Lada Kalina heats much better than in previous models of the VAZ automobile industry line.

But incorrect operation of the heater dampers, unfortunately, is a very common “disease” of the Lada Kalina. Therefore, after purchasing, try to prepare in advance for the heating season, especially since you can do this yourself quite quickly and easily.

Method for checking the stove on Lada Kalina

The entire procedure is carried out with the engine running.

Checking the heating fan and ventilation system:

We move the temperature regulator knob of the control unit to the extreme position (blue zone).
Smoothly switch the fan speed from first to fourth speed.
We monitor the intensity of incoming air, outgoing air and the air duct. With each speed, its flow should intensify.

If Kalina’s stove still does not work, we check the functionality of the fuse, indicated F5 in the diagram. Together with him we check the power circuit. If the fan does not work at any speed or its intensity does not change linearly, it is worth checking the switch and additional resistor. If there is insufficient air flow, the cabin air filter should be replaced.

After everything described, we move on to checking the heater dampers. For this:

We move the temperature regulator to the extreme position (blue zone), set the fan speed to maximum.
We rotate the damper control knob on the block, at the same time we control changes in the direction of the air coming out of them.

If the air flow does not change its direction, this indicates a malfunction in the mechanical part of the heater control unit. For example, the rod has fallen off or the roller is not screwed onto it due to a breakage, or the damper is simply jammed. When climate control is installed, it is worth checking the performance of the micromotor gearbox of the ventilation unit damper, air conditioner and heater. For this:

warm up the engine to operating temperature;
We move the temperature regulator to the extreme red zone;
we control the presence of warm or hot air flow from the air ducts.

If the air flow temperature remains unchanged, you should check the functionality of the mechanical part of the heater control. When using climate control, we carry out the above operations. We also check the serviceability of the engine cooling system.

In conclusion, we note that if you are not confident in your abilities and capabilities, it is better to send the car for diagnostics to trained specialists, because any mistake you make leads to the replacement of an entire unit or system, which will have a significant impact on the family budget!

Checking ventilation and stove Lada Kalina

The Lada Kalina heater device is designed for heating and cooling the car interior. If the car does not heat up, the windows fog up, or you feel discomfort, then you need to test the performance of the heating system. Understand the functioning of the stove on Kalina.

The location of the stove was designed for easy installation of an air conditioner. The system is simple, but at the same time quite reliable.

Left side flow outlet.
Left air duct.
Heated side window.
Air flow splitter.
Stove.
Right ventilation duct.
Right side flow exit.
Bottom heating duct.
Interior heating duct.
Central outlet of ventilation flows.

The supply and exhaust principle is used. The air masses inside the car are heated using a special liquid, which simultaneously cools the engine. The operating principle of the Kalina stove is based on the fact that the liquid warms up the radiator, where heat exchange occurs, and the heated air passes into the cabin through the air ducts.

The amount of air that is heated by the stove radiator is regulated by a damper. Controls the operation of the fan and dampers by a unit located on the central panel.

Temperature regulator. We change the heating of the air flow by turning the knob. The blue zone produces cold air, the red zone produces warm air.
Fan speed switch. By turning the knob clockwise, the intensity of the air flow is adjusted. Choose one of 4 fan speeds.
Air flow separation selector. Distributed in specific areas:

The flows pass through the upper part of the cabin.

Air flows are directed onto the windshield and down.

Air flows are concentrated in the area of the windshield, as well as the side ones.

The handle that controls the recirculation of cabin air. We turn on the mode when driving off-road or in a traffic jam. Used for a short time, the glass fogs up.
Rear window heating mode switch.

We regulate the direction and saturation of air flows through aerodynamic devices. We turn the guide blades and change the position of the dampers to achieve the desired air direction.

The outlet pipes are located in the car body under the trunk. The heater is located under the dashboard. The air flow enters the car interior through an intake, which is designed in front of the windshield in the engine compartment. The air enters through the filter and is accelerated throughout the cabin under pressure created by the fan.

1.Pipes for supplying air to the rear of the cabin.

2.Side ventilation nozzles.

3.Blowing the side windows.

Windshield blower nozzle.

5-6-7. Central deflectors for flows entering the car interior.

Relay with fuse assembly.
Mode switch.
Resistor.
Electric stove motor.
Egnition lock.

A. To the power source.

Car owners claim that Kalina’s heater heats much better than previous VAZ models. It sometimes breaks down and requires repair. Do a full system diagnostic to ensure it's working properly.

We start the car engine.
Turn the left handle counterclockwise and place it in the blue zone.
We place the fan speed switch in each of the 4 positions one by one. If the fan does not rotate in one of the positions, then check the power supply circuit of the device.
Turn the speed controller to maximum.
Using the right handle (damper control) we check the redirection of air flows. If we notice that there is no change, then the damper drive needs to be repaired.
Warm up the engine to 90°C. Turn the left handle to the extreme position of the red zone.
The air that comes out of the panels should blow warm air.
Return the left stick to the blue zone. Cold air will come out of the nozzles again.
If the temperature of the air flow does not change due to a change in the position of the regulator, then the control of the central damper drive is faulty.

The car owner may not immediately understand that the Kalina interior heater, the circuit of which is simple, is damaged. You constantly add antifreeze in small quantities, and the carpet in the cabin is dry and there is no smell of antifreeze. A stove leak does not appear immediately, and the main thing is that the liquid can evaporate. The radiator on Kalina does not have pipes leading into the cabin that could leak.

Your stove is not working or is not heating well. Look for the cause of the problem. The fan does not work or the heater radiator is leaking - obvious breakdowns that occur at any time.

Stove control unit:

The engine was warmed up, but warm air did not enter the cabin.
The damper drive cables may have come off. The only solution is to remove the console.

Antifreeze circulation. Start the engine and check the level in the expansion tank, and also check for any disturbances in the normal flow of antifreeze. Possible reasons:

Pump. Cannot be repaired, only replaced.
The cooling system is clogged. Clean or rinse.

Checking the thermostat. Warm up the engine to 75°C. If the upper pipe is cold, then the thermostat does not work correctly and does not allow coolant to move in a large circle. Replace the device.

Airlock. Remove the plug from the vehicle's engine cooling system.

Temperature sensor. Constantly blowing cold or hot air. If cleaning the contacts does not help, then replace the non-working temperature sensor.

Air filter. If the air flow is weak and there is no desired temperature, then replace the filter. Be sure to check the heater resistor, which controls the rotation of the fan and is located under the glove compartment.

Dampers. It is difficult to determine the breakdown unless you replace the dampers themselves.

The cause of a heater malfunction may be a depressurization of the car's engine cooling system. The types of breakdowns described above cause malfunctions in the operation of the Lada Kalina car's stove. Such breakdowns do not require special knowledge; they are easy to understand and repair.

How to repair Kalina stove control

Impossible or difficult switching of the temperature mode regulator may be due to a breakdown of the switch itself. Replacing the heater switch on Kalina is quite easy (provided that the work on dismantling the heater control mechanism has already been completed). On the rear control panel console, remove the four switch block mounting screws. Remove the cable fastening clamps and disengage the cables from the drive device. Replace the broken switch. Assembly is performed in reverse order. When performing these works, mark with a marker the location of the cables on the lever block. This is necessary in order to install the rods correctly during assembly.

Main causes of malfunctions

So, what should we do if heat does not flow inside our car and cold air blows. Let's consider the main causes of such malfunctions:

Failure of the Kalina heater switching control cable. The reason for such a malfunction may be that the latch has fallen off, and the cable stretches normally in one direction, but does not reach the opposite direction.
On Kalina, the stove only works at speed 4. Associated with a broken thermistor.
On a Kalina car, the heater switch often breaks when turned on abruptly, which is due to insufficiently strong plastic.

Here is a list of the main breakdowns that may occur. Next, we move directly to the repair itself and replacement of failed parts.

Device characteristics

The air conditioning compressor drive operates directly from the motor, which is the main disadvantage of the system. Its use inevitably causes a loss of dynamics and increases fuel consumption. The air temperature in the cabin is regulated by turning a special knob on the climate control panel.

A special recirculation mode also helps cool the air. However, its long-term use reduces the amount of oxygen in the air inside the car and fogging of the windows. In general, the climate system of Kalina has three components:

air conditioner;
interior heater;
air mixing control unit.

In Kalina, equipped with an air conditioning unit, air from outside the car flows first to the evaporator and then to the heater radiator.

Kalina heater diagram

General layout of the Kalina stove

The location of the stove was designed for easy installation of an air conditioner. The system is simple, but at the same time quite reliable.

Left side flow outlet.
Left air duct.
Heated side window.
Air flow splitter.
Stove.
Right ventilation duct.
Right side flow exit.
Bottom heating duct.
Interior heating duct.
Central outlet of ventilation flows.

Diagnosis and troubleshooting

The easiest way to resolve the issue is regarding the cabin filter. For the first time, thorough blowing of the element will be enough, but then it is better to replace it. The real problem is a leaking radiator or a broken fan; an expensive replacement of the unit cannot be avoided. An equally high price will have to be paid for a new control unit.

It will be somewhat cheaper to install a new temperature sensor, gearmotor or Kalina heater resistor. Moreover, the malfunction still needs to be correctly diagnosed, which can be quite difficult. A burnt resistor is easily identified - the fan only runs at maximum speed. It is more difficult to check the sensor hidden in the lighting shade. A sign of a malfunction is that a hot or cold stream flows from one or more grilles, regardless of the position of the regulator handle.

It is more difficult to detect how well the mechanical heater regulator is functioning. To do this, you need to get to it by disassembling part of the front panel. In the same way, the proper operation of the air dampers is determined.

To carry out diagnostics, it is better to start searching for problems with the most accessible elements, and only then start disassembling.

Repair and replacement of faulty parts

Many novice motorists ask questions: how to remove the heater regulator on Kalina, what LED is in the heater switch on Kalina, what should be done when the heater mode switch on Kalina does not work. Answering these questions, I want to say that initially it is necessary to dismantle our entire mechanism, after which we proceed to disassembly according to the following scheme:

First of all, disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. This is done to de-energize the system so as not to short-circuit any of the sensors during the disassembly process.
We remove the radio and turn off the power coming from the wiring harness.
We remove the damper switch lever, then remove the temperature regulator and the air flow distribution regulator.
At the bottom, remove the plugs behind which there are 2 screws, unscrew the fastening screws and gradually begin to remove the instrument panel console.
After our panel is removed, it is necessary to disconnect the power supply connectors located on the back.
After eliminating the malfunction, assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

To carry out this work, we only need a flat and Phillips screwdriver from the tools.

Difficult or impossible switching of the temperature regulator may be due to a breakdown of the switch itself. On a Lada Kalina car, replacing the heater switch is quite easy (provided that work has previously been done to remove the heater control mechanism). On the rear console of the control panel, unscrew the four screws securing the switch block. We remove the cable fastening clamps, then remove the cables from engagement with the drive unit. We replace the broken switch and reassemble it in the reverse order. When performing this work, I give you useful advice: the location of the cables on the lever block must be marked with a marker; this is done in order to install the rods in their original places during assembly.

The dashboard of a Lada Kalina car disassembled

When the stove temperature regulator does not work on Kalina, the main reasons for the breakdown may be: a disconnected connection wire or a failure of the thermistor. Such malfunctions are treated by soldering the wire and replacing the broken element. It happens that the stove regulator on Kalina does not work due to a breakdown of the temperature sensor, which happens quite rarely. This sensor is located inside the car interior lamp. If it is found to be damaged, it must be replaced with a new one.

Visual instructions for removing the fan resistor

Answering the question about what kind of LED is installed in the stove switch in Kalina, I want to say that there are LED lamps with a power of 3 Watts and a voltage of 12 Volts. This lamp is quite enough for illumination, but some motorists install LEDs with a power of 5 Watts. This does not affect the work process, the backlight just becomes a little brighter.

CONTROL UNIT FOR VENTILATION AND HEATING SYSTEM LADA KALINA

Ventilation and heating system control unit: i — air temperature regulator; 2 — fan operating mode switch; 3 — air flow distribution regulator; 4— air recirculation control lever; 5 - rear window heating switch

The intensity of the air supply into the cabin is regulated by turning the handle of the fan operating mode switch. This turns on one of four fan speeds.

By turning the switch handle clockwise, we increase the fan rotation speed.

The position of the flow distribution control handle sets the following directions of air flow in the cabin:

By turning the handle of the air temperature regulator, we change the temperature of the air entering the cabin. To increase the air temperature, turn the regulator handle to the left, to the red sector of the scale, and to decrease the air temperature, turn to the right, to the blue sector.

Air Conditioner Frost

The Frost kit is installed on VAZ cars such as Granta and Kalina. This air conditioner is equipped with a three-position compressor regulator, which allows you to better adjust the microclimate in the car. The Frost air conditioner is easy to maintain: the main thing is to fill it with freon on time. This model can also be installed with a special cooled air filter.

Some car owners complain about the reduced performance of the system compared to some analogues, that is, normal air temperature is achieved in a longer time than when using an air conditioner of a different system. Most likely, this flaw is due to insufficient compressor power. But in general, the Frost system does not have a bad effect on the operation of the car, like a standard air conditioner.

Kit for installing air conditioning on a Lada Kalina car

This cooling machine runs on freon and is driven by a motor. In conjunction with the standard heater, the air conditioner forms a climate control system, which also allows you to reduce the air humidity in the cabin, which, at high relative humidity, protects the car windows from fogging.

The maximum speed, power, gasoline consumption and other characteristics of a car with installed air conditioning are maintained in accordance with the specifications for the vehicle. The Frost air conditioner, when brought to its maximum operating mode, has sufficient potential to reduce the temperature in the cabin by 5-12 ° C relative to the outside air temperature, depending on the intensity of solar radiation, air humidity and the number of people in the cabin.

Engine cooling system problems?

Most often, problems with the stove arise due to the EDS (engine cooling system). The first step is to check the coolant level in the expansion tank and, if necessary, add it to a level between o and “MAX”. By the way, many car enthusiasts in winter specifically add coolant only to the “MIN” mark; the less liquid there is in the system, the faster it will heat up, and therefore Kalina’s stove will start blowing warm air a little earlier than usual.

If coolant has to be added all the time, then the cooling system is leaking somewhere. You should carefully inspect all pipes for leaks, and also tighten the clamps. If the stove (radiator) is leaking, then it should be replaced.

Now you should check the circulation of antifreeze in the system, paying attention to the expansion tank.

If there is no circulation of coolant, or it is insufficient, then there may be two reasons for this ailment: the pump (it should be replaced) or the ODS is clogged (needs to be cleaned).

We check the thermostat: warm up the engine to 75 degrees and touch the upper radiator pipe (in diagram No. 6), if it is cold, then the antifreeze is circulating only in a small circle, the thermostat should be replaced with a new one.

Another reason that Kalina’s stove does not heat is the air in the SOD. Read how to remove air from the engine cooling system. More details about how to repair Kalina's SOD.

Problems with Kalina's heater elements?

To understand why Kalina’s stove does not work, you should understand its operating principle: The heater control unit (HCU) receives a signal from the ceiling temperature sensor in the cabin (installed in the interior lamp) and compares it with the temperature set by the driver. If the difference is greater than a certain value (for example, more than 2 degrees), then the ACS unit sends a control signal to the micromotor-gearbox (MMR), which controls the heater dampers (opens or closes hot air from the heater).

Therefore, if Kalina’s stove only blows hot or cold air, regardless of the position of the handle on the heater block, then start by checking the interior temperature sensor.

Also, the cause may be the MMR itself, for example, its resistor layers or gear teeth have worn out.

Sometimes it happens that the stove does not blow well - the first thing you should do is replace the cabin air filter. The speed of the heater fan is affected by the heater resistor (for example, the 4th speed of the heater does not work), so it makes sense to check it too (it’s under the glove compartment).

If the electric heater fan does not turn on at all, then check the Kalina heater fuse - F5. And if the heater howls or hums, then most likely the problem is in the heater fan.

Another reason for the heater not working properly could be the Kalina heater control unit itself (for example, there are problems with the heater damper), but don’t rush to buy a replacement without making sure the actions are correct. The easiest way to find out why the stove is not working properly is to replace the part with a working one and check its functionality. It is not necessary to buy a new part; you can ask a friend for a known working part, or negotiate with the seller, leaving a deposit.

Thus, we have examined all the elements of the heater (see also the design of the Kalina stove). Start following the order of the article, moving from simple to complex, and then you will certainly be able to repair Kalina’s stove with your own hands!

Fan replacement

If the stove fan stops working, or it makes strange sounds, then it is necessary to dismantle it, clean it or replace it. However, you should not rush to replace it; first you need to make sure that the brushes of the mechanism are intact, in which case replacement will not be required. Getting to this part is not so easy, but for cars with the Lada “tenth” family design, there is a time-tested reliable way to get to the fan:

Release the right side of the instrument panel by unscrewing the eight screws, then the panel must be lifted.
Afterwards it is necessary to remove the standard sound insulation of the engine shield.
Next, you will need to take a position in the cabin so that your shoulders rest on the mat; this is the easiest way to reach the fan.

Removing the fan is quite simple. All you need is the necessary tools and a little time. By unscrewing the three screws of the casing cover and removing the frame of the radiator pipe seal, you can remove the device. But before changing a part, you need to determine whether it works or not.

After all, it often happens that a dismantled fan spins and functions normally, but as soon as it is put back in place, it immediately ceases to fulfill its direct duties. The reason for this is most often accumulated small particles that prevent normal contact in the mechanism.

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