VAZ-2101 was the first model to roll off the AvtoVAZ assembly line. At the time of its appearance, it was a relatively modern car. But at the moment, when the production of this model was discontinued more than 30 years ago, 2101 is hopelessly outdated. Although the “first-born” VAZ is still driving along our roads.
The owners of this car are always trying to keep it “life” by altering and reworking some elements and systems. One of the systems that definitely requires replacement on the VAZ-2101 is the ignition system.
The “native” ignition on the VAZ-2101 was contact. In this ignition, the distributor supplied a spark to the desired spark plug at the moment the contact pair opened. The disadvantage of such ignition is the need to periodically check and adjust the gap between the contacts of the distributor. In addition, during operation it is not uncommon for contacts to burn out, due to which the quality of system operation is significantly reduced. Because of this, every VAZ-2101 owner had a diamond needle file in his tool kit for periodically cleaning the contact surface.
Advantages of contactless ignition
Newer models already use contactless ignition, also known as electronic. In this ignition there is no longer a contact pair; the spark is supplied due to the contactless operation of the Hall sensor, which provides significant ease of operation. This type of ignition is much easier to maintain, and its operation is better than the contact system.
A very important fact is that on newer models that use electronic ignition, many elements are unified with the same “Kopeyka”. Indeed, in order to quickly set up production of a new model, the basis for its creation was many components of previous models, but with certain modifications. Therefore, installing contactless ignition on the VAZ-2101 is quite possible. Moreover, this is not a particularly difficult job, and the owner of this car can do it himself in a garage.
In fact, to install electronic ignition on a VAZ-2101, you only need a complete set of such ignition elements and subsequently connect them correctly to each other. After all, almost all the seats, and only the distributor is important, are the same on both the contact and non-contact systems. That is, you won’t have to change anything in the engine at all.
If you take this issue seriously, not much time will be spent, 3-4 hours will be enough, but in the future this will save a lot of time that was spent on servicing the contact system.
Installation of electronic ignition on video for classic VAZ 2101-2107 cars.
This video covers all the nuances.
How to adjust contactless ignition
Before setting the ignition on VAZ 2101-2107 cars, you need to warm up the engine a little, without letting it stall.
You can adjust either by ear or using a special device called a strobe to set the ignition. A strobe light is a device with which even a beginner can set the ignition correctly. For more information on setting up the ignition with a strobe, watch the video.
https://youtu.be/https://youtu.be/s47zMDzbggI
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What is needed to convert the ignition system
So, in order to install contactless ignition on a VAZ-2101, you will first need to purchase all its components. You can buy all the elements from a newer VAZ model. Below are the markings of all the elements that are best used:
- Switch (model K563.3734 TU11 KZhShchG 023-94) which also includes an emergency switch (model K562.3734). Essentially these are two separate switches connected together. The presence of an emergency switch will ensure the operation of the system even if the main one fails;
- Set of spark plugs (model A17DVR or their analogues);
- Sensor-distributor, also known as distributor (model 38.3706);
- Ignition coil with open magnetic circuit (model 27.3705);
- Wiring harness with chips for connection;
- High voltage wires with lugs (if the “original” wires are in excellent condition, there is no need to buy new ones);
When purchasing a distributor, it is important to ensure that the distributor model 3810.3706 is not sold under the guise of the required one. This distributor is used on the Niva; the indicated models are identical in appearance, but the Nivovsky has other performance characteristics, in particular a centrifugal regulator and a vacuum regulator.
Also, in order for the contactless ignition system of the VAZ-2101 to “take root” on your car, you will need a certain tool:
- Candle key;
- Open-end wrenches (for 8, 10, 11, 12, 13);
- Pliers;
- A set of probes (you will need sizes 0.7-0.8);
Electronic ignition connection diagrams: VAZ 2101-VAZ 2107
Scheme of a contactless ignition system for VAZ cars:
How contactless ignition works
The sequence and principle of operation of the BSZ is as follows:
- The driver turns the ignition key.
- The circuit is closed and constant voltage from the battery is supplied to the primary winding of the ignition coil. The energized primary winding forms a magnetic field around itself.
- When the starter starts, it begins to rotate the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and rotates the shaft, which is located inside the distributor along with the slider.
- The hall sensor detects how the distributor shaft rotates (along the protrusion on the shaft) and transmits a signal to the switch.
- The electronic unit turns off the voltage supply to the primary winding based on the signal from the Hall sensor.
- When the voltage supply circuit is interrupted, at that moment a high voltage pulse of up to 24 kilovolts appears in the secondary winding of the coil, which is transmitted through a thick wire to the slider (the moving part of the distributor).
- Fixed contacts are built into the roof. The runner throws an impulse onto one of these stationary contacts. From the contact that received the high voltage pulse, it is transmitted through high-voltage wires to the spark plugs of those cylinders in which the pistons are at top dead centers.
- When voltage is applied to the spark plug, the working combustion chamber of the cylinder already contains fuel and air in a compressed state for ignition.
- The distributor slider rotates to spark all spark plugs according to a certain sequence pattern: 1-3-4-2. Depending on how to install the slider, the entire operation of the system depends, early ignition or later, we learned to determine in another material.
- The car engine starts.
Installation of ignition elements
With everything assembled, you can begin installation. There is a certain scheme, according to which the contactless ignition of the VAZ-2101 is installed, but it is not necessary to follow it, the order of work can be changed, only the end result is important.
So, we install the contactless electronic ignition of the VAZ-2101:
- We unscrew the old spark plugs with a spark plug wrench , and install new ones in their place, having first checked and set the gap between the electrodes on them to 0.7-0.8 mm;
- Installing the switch . Since there is no seat for it, you will have to choose it yourself. The best place for installation is considered to be the rear wall of the engine compartment. There you will find an area of the required size, and the switch will not interfere in the future, the main thing is that access to it is easy. To secure, you can use a drill to drill holes. Then the switch is secured with bolts and nuts. But you can also secure it with self-tapping screws. An important condition is that the switch fits as closely as possible to the surface in order to better ensure its cooling.
- On the “original” distributor, remove the cover and turn the crankshaft until the slider is in the position corresponding to TDC of the first cylinder. Additionally, you should check that the marks on the knee pulley match. shaft with marks on the timing cover. The pulley mark should coincide with the middle mark.
- We unscrew the fastening of the “native” distributor and remove it. On the new contactless distributor, before installation, we also remove the cover and set the slider to a position that is identical to the position on the old one. Then we put it in place of the extracted one and tighten the nut securing it, but do not tighten it.
- There is a Hall sensor installed on the side of the contactless distributor , which must be installed correctly. To do this, we rotate the distributor body until its central electrode coincides with the edge of the nearest technological window, on which the start of spark supply depends. After installing the Hall sensor in the desired position, tighten the distributor fastening.
- We loosen the ignition coil , having first disconnected the high voltage wire going to the distributor from it. There is no need to disconnect the remaining wires from it. We install a new one in place of the “original” coil and secure it.
At this point, the contactless ignition system of the VAZ-2101 is considered installed, but it remains to be connected correctly for it to work.
How to check the ignition coil
There are two main ways in which you can independently check the performance of the ignition coil. Let's list them in order.
If your car's spark plugs suddenly stop sparking, the problem may be due to a problem with the ignition coil. This device, which is a pulse transformer, has a fairly simple design. On its metal core is a secondary winding containing 30,000 turns of thin copper wire. It, in turn, is covered with a primary winding, for the manufacture of which a slightly thicker wire is used.
The ignition coil is connected as follows:
- one of the ends of the secondary and primary windings is connected to the car battery to supply power to the device;
- the second end of the primary winding is connected to the distributor;
- the common wire connecting both windings is connected to the voltage switch.
As soon as the circuit opens, a high current is supplied to the secondary winding, which provokes a spark at the spark plug. If this does not happen, the car simply will not start.
Connection
First, we connect the switch and distributor with wiring to the chips. Everything is simple there; it will be impossible to mix up the sides of the installation, since both the distributor and the switch have guides that will allow you to connect the chips only in the correct position.
The black wire coming from the switch must be secured to ground. The contact of this wire with the body should be very good, so it won’t hurt to strip the paint from the body at the attachment point.
The red wire coming from the switch is connected to the ignition coil installed on the car, to terminal “K”. From the old coil we disconnect the two wires connected to terminal “B”. If the wiring on the car has not been changed, then these wires are blue and light blue with a black streak.
When connecting a new coil to the terminals, do not rely on the old one. The fact is that in the new coil these terminals have a mirror position compared to the old one. This must be taken into account so as not to be confused.
We install the cover on the distributor and connect all the high voltage wires. Also connected from the carburetor is a pipeline going to the vacuum regulator. At this point we can assume that the contactless ignition on 2101 is completely installed and connected.
If the contactless ignition of the VAZ-2101 is installed correctly, then the car should start without problems and operate stably in all modes.
Possible faults
If the car does not start, you should first check that the wiring is connected correctly. You can also unscrew the spark plugs and check for a spark.
It is quite possible that the distributor was positioned incorrectly during installation, in particular, the Hall sensor did not align with the center of the technological hole, and as a result, the moment of sparking was disrupted.
To eliminate the malfunction, you should make a new adjustment with preliminary installation of marks on the pulley with marks on the cover, setting the position of the slider, and then install the Hall sensor.
It is also possible that the contactless ignition of the VAZ-2101 does not work because one of the components is simply faulty. Therefore, before installation, it is advisable to check the switch, distributor and coil on a car equipped with such an ignition system.
