FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN
Timing chain drive Chevrolet cobalt is part of the gas distribution mechanism and is involved in the transmission of torque from the crankshaft to the camshaft. The chain can connect them directly or participate in the work indirectly, for example, connecting the camshafts with each other, if there are two of them, while its functional purpose remains unchanged.
Monitoring the timing chain condition, replacing "dampers" and tensioners, is part of the planned Maintenance the car and plays an important role in the operation of the engine vehicle... It is necessary to monitor the state of the gas distribution system regularly, as this directly affects the vehicle's power, sensitivity when supplying gas and fuel consumption.
FEATURES OF CHAIN REPLACEMENT
In most engines of old car models, chains with roller links were used to transmit torque, often the components went in two or three rows, this made the timing chain a very reliable, almost eternal mechanism that did not need constant maintenance. Often the car traveled up to 300,000 km. and the chain of the mechanism received only lateral play, and the worst thing that could happen to the gas distribution mechanism was the jumping of the links, breaks were extremely rare. Over time, the trend in the creation of cars has become the production price, efficiency, environmental friendliness and the weight of the car's engine, which affects its power. In these conditions, manufacturers began to strive to replace the timing chain with a lighter, cheaper and easier to maintain timing belt. And those motors, in the design of which the chains were preserved, the roller components were replaced by light plate links, more reliable than timing belts, but still not as strong as roller chains.
The Chevrolet Cobalt timing chain has a number of features that fundamentally distinguish it from the timing belt.
1. The chain is a durable mechanism, its wear takes much longer than the timing belt, breaks occur, but much less frequently than in belt-driven engines.
2. An open circuit of the gas distribution mechanism occurs quite rarely, and therefore an engine breakdown, which requires an expensive overhaul, does not occur often.
3. Timing chains are quite noisy, but with the current level of car noise insulation, this parameter becomes not very important.
4. When the chain is worn out, its backlash and lateral runout occur, this indicates the need to replace the old chain with a new one. Since the metal part is sagging and lateral beating is accompanied by strong noise, it is simply impossible not to notice and not attach importance to it. Noise under the hood will be the first "bell" indicating the need for vehicle maintenance.
5. The main disadvantage of replacing the Chevrolet Cobalt timing chain is that it is located inside the cylinder block and it is rather difficult to assess its condition without training and experience. In addition, dismantling and replacement, with such a device, is a long and laborious process, which means it is expensive.
6. Tensioners and dampers are involved in the timing chain - these are consumable parts that wear out quickly and need more frequent replacements than the timing chain itself.
TYPES OF FAILURES
1. At the timing chains, with full serviceability, a natural course is observed, which is compensated by the tensioners when the oil pressure is applied. A malfunction is considered to be a strong lateral beating of the timing chain, which appears when the links are stretched. Determine the real degree of chain stretching is possible only with a qualified inspection of the gas distribution mechanism.
2. Backlash is a direct stretch of the chain, which is observed during long-term operation, can lead to jumping of the chain links and malfunction of the gas distribution mechanism, this leads to a decrease in the sensitivity of the engine when the accelerator pedal is pressed and an increase in fuel consumption.
3. Opening the timing chain Chevrolet Cobalt - is the most dangerous damage to the engine, in the case of a chain drive of the motor it is not common, but it does take place. In the event of such a malfunction camshaft ceases to be associated with crankshaft and can stop completely arbitrarily in such a position in which any of the valves of the gas distribution mechanism will be open. In this case, the piston, moving upward, may collide with the valve, which will lead to its deformation and the car engine will face serious repairs. It should be noted that the timing chain breakage does not happen unexpectedly, almost always this is accompanied by changes in the operation of the vehicle, a decrease in its power, a change in gasoline consumption and the occurrence of extraneous noise.
To prevent and prevent the operation of the gas distribution mechanism, it is necessary to periodically troubleshoot the timing chain, this will save the car engine from damage, prevent premature engine wear and increase its service life.
CAUSES OF WEAR
1. Operation of the Chevrolet Cobalt car in extreme conditions. Frequent driving on unpaved roads, towing trailers, heavy loads, moving at high speeds leads to an increase in the load on crankshaft, untwisting it to maximum speed, which leads to stretching of the timing chain.
2. Since the timing chain is located inside the cylinder block, it is completely washed engine oil and as a result is very sensitive to its quality. In the case of using high-quality synthetic oil containing specialized detergents in its composition, the service life of the timing chain is significantly increased.
3. The timing chain involves parts that regulate the tension of the chain, they are consumable and need to be replaced periodically. During maintenance of the car, it is necessary to check the degree of wear of the tensioner and "damper", untimely replacement these parts can cause the chain to stretch and the links to skip.
SYMPTOMS OF MALFUNCTIONS
1. Increased consumption of gasoline by car;
2. Decrease in engine power; 3. The appearance of clanking and noise under the hood of the car when the engine is running;
4. Complete stop of the car on the move, when trying to start the engine does not start, and the starter rotates easier than usual;
5. Precarious work Chevrolet engine Cobalt on Idling and in motion;
6. The emergence of shots in the receiver of the injector and the exhaust pipe.
All these malfunctions may indicate a shift in the valve timing and a loosening of the chain tension. If on your car you notice one or more signs and this list - immediately contact the service station for an inspection.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN
Frequency of replacing any consumables for Chevrolet cars Cobalt depends on the driving style and the mode of operation of the machine. With extreme driving style and aggressive use of the vehicle, it is necessary to replace the timing chain as it looses and wears out.
Under normal operating conditions, it is necessary to replace the timing chain as planned, every 100 - 150,000 km. mileage. If your car has an analog belt, it must be replaced a little earlier than the time recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Trust your car only to professional specialists who are capable of correctly troubleshooting the timing chain, assessing lateral runout and backlash, replacing and adjusting the operation of tensioners, chain drive “dampers” and replacing the Chevrolet Cobalt timing chain.
.
Asks: Yuri Ustinov.
Question: So is it a chain or a timing belt?
I want to buy a Chevrolet Cobalt. But in our city there are few of them for sale. I called one seller, he says that he changed the timing belt. To the other, he says that there is a chain on Cobalt and it only needs to be tightened. He did not pull up, since the mileage is not more than 45,000. He says that it is necessary to pull up when there is a clatter or the run is over a hundred!
Where is the truth and where is the lie? Should I buy Cobalt at chain mechanism Timing?
The following two tabs change content below.
Alexey "technical specialist"
I'm just sick with cars. I try to study in detail every car I owned. I like driving at night through the city streets. I try to carry out repairs in my cars with my own hands!
About the engine
Timing mechanism on Chevrolet Cobalt chain.
The engine on the Chevrolet Cobalt is distinguished by its endurance and excellent technical characteristics.
As a result, the motor is quite inexpensive to repair. Its peculiarity is also that in the timing it has a chain, not a belt .
Pros of the chain mechanism
Since the chain is more reliable, it can serve for a longer period than a belt.
Chain replacement kit.
It will have to be changed after 250,000 kilometers.
But at the same time it is worth remembering that you need to tighten it periodically ... It is recommended to do this every 70-80 thousand kilometers mileage.
Disadvantages (increased noise)
Features of chain replacement
New chain close by.
Replacement is made only complete with rollers. If the chain is tensioned on time, then it will serve for a long time.
It will not be difficult to choose it either, since there are few engine modifications in Cobalt, which are intended for operation in domestic conditions. To buy a chain, it is worth visiting only specialized stores. You need to buy only from time-tested sellers in order to save yourself from unnecessary hassle and costs.
Chevrolet Cobalt has an engine with a working volume of only 1.5 liters. Engine power Chevrolet Cobalt 105 HP Other powertrain options for budget sedan Cobalt is not offered in Russia. 
The main feature of this Chevrolet Cobalt engine is the presence timing chains... The timing chain is much more practical than a belt and requires less attention. The S-Tec series engine is specially designed for emerging markets with harsh operating conditions. The photo of the engine is just above. Gasoline 16-valve GM Powertrain S-Tec III is combined with both a manual 5-speed gearbox and a 6-range modern automatic, which we will discuss below. Until then, detailed Chevrolet Cobalt engine characteristics.
Engine Specifications Chevrolet Cobalt 1.5 B15D2
- Working volume - 1485 cm3
- Number of valves / cylinders - 16/4
- Timing drive - chain
- Environmental class - EURO 5
- Gas distribution mechanism - DOHC
- Power system - multipoint fuel injection
- Power - 105 HP / 78 kW. at 5800 rpm
- Torque - 134 Nm at 4000 rpm
- Maximum speed - 170 (manual transmission5) and 163 (automatic transmission6) kilometers per hour
- Acceleration to the first hundred - 11.7 (manual transmission5) and 14.1 (automatic transmission6) seconds
- Fuel consumption in the urban cycle - 8.4 (manual transmission5) and 10.4 (automatic transmission6) liters
- Fuel consumption on the highway - 5.3 (manual transmission5) and 5.9 (automatic transmission6) liters
- Combined fuel consumption - 6.5 (manual transmission5) and 7.6 (automatic transmission6) liters
As for the transmission, the main feature is budget Chevrolet Cobalt is the presence of a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Chevrolet Cobalt automatic transmission is an assembly assembled in Korea GM 6T30. Photo of the box automatic Chevrolet Cobalt below.
Fuel consumption with automatic in the city of Chevrolet Cobalt, even with a very modern ACKP exceeds 10 liters. For that on the highway, the sedan can boast of a very moderate consumption, a little less than 6 liters.
Concerning overclocking Chevrolet Cobalt with automatic, then up to a hundred the car accelerates in more than 14 seconds. Naturally power unit with a manual, albeit 5-speed transmission, it is more dynamic.
Today, the difference in price of a Chevrolet Cobalt with an automatic transmission and a mechanics is 59 thousand rubles. Moreover, the cheapest Cobalt configuration does not have an air conditioner, but the same version, but with an automatic transmission, already has an air conditioner. Another incentive to buy a car with automatic transmission.
Two class B cars on one platform are rare. In one of the previous issues (ZR, 2013, No. 11), we wrote about the Aveo service. Now let's see if the cheap co-platform "Cobalt" turns out to be even more maintainable.
SINGLE
There is only one engine available for the Russian Cobalt. In our market, this engine cannot be found under the hood of other Chevrolets. Unlike most of its fellow GMs, it has a timing drive with a maintenance-free chain - you don't have to spend a decent amount on routine belt replacement with rollers.
Drive unit attachments depends on the configuration. Cars without air conditioning are available for order, but they have not seen one in the service so far. In the rest, the main belt is equipped with an automatic tensioner. To replace it, you will first have to remove the additional power steering pump drive belt, which does not have a tensioner. You need to use a special puller or partially unscrew the pump. The solution is not the most successful, because the replacement of the main belt is provided every 90,000 km or ten years.
The ignition coils are hidden under a plastic cover, in which the oil separator of the crankcase ventilation system is built. It is secured with five bolts. The ventilation hose can be left on. But if you want to completely remove the cover, then you need to press the rectangular latch on its lock. It is not difficult to remove the coils, they are fixed with ordinary bolts. The regulation prescribes replacing candles every 30,000 km or two years.
Lid air filter keeps on two self-tapping screws for "torx 25" and three protrusions that go into the slots on the body. You just need to take it out and take it to the side a little. The replacement interval is 30,000 km.
There is no plastic around the battery - nothing to break. Its metal holder is secured with just one bolt. Terminals in standard design.
Replacement fuel filter not provided for by the regulations. But, given our realities, someday it will need to be cleaned or replaced. The filter is built in fuel pump and, unfortunately, is not available as a separate spare part. To remove the assembly, you will have to remove the tank. Indeed, as in the Aveo, there is no technological hole in the body.
WET BUSINESS
For the drain plug of the engine, you need a regular "15" wrench. There is a hole in the factory crankcase for it. Oil filter located on the front of the engine. Access is not very good. Most often, a puller is needed, the strength of the hands may not be enough. It's easier to do it from below, but you can also try from above. This choice is useful when only the filter needs to be changed.
Finally, the updated manual box has a normal drain and filler plug, albeit under a square head. On the same "Aveo" they still install a unit, from which the oil pan must be unscrewed to drain the oil. Formally, it is flooded for the entire service life, but someday it will be necessary to carry out work that involves draining it.
The hydromechanical "automatic" migrated from the "Aveo". To access the drain plug, the protection will have to be removed. The filling hole is on the top of the unit, under a large plastic cover, and the control hole is on the side. The required oil level on the heated box is under the edge of the hole. The solution is not the most complicated one these days. The replacement interval is 75,000 km under severe operating conditions and 150,000 km under normal conditions.
The power steering system has a convenient place for draining the fluid. Formally, the oil is filled for the entire service life, but, as practice shows, it requires periodic replacement. His condition is clearly visible in expansion tank... If the oil is severely blackened, do not delay the change.
Antifreeze drain plug is located on the right side of the radiator. There is a through hole under its fitting in the "TV set". True, the antifreeze will still spread in all directions, so for ease of draining, put a hose on the fitting. For this operation, you do not need to remove additional elements - it is very convenient. The replacement interval is 150,000 km or five years.
Replacement brake fluid- every two years. The fittings on the brakes are conveniently located. When replacing the front pads, you will need a “7” hexagon for the guides on which the caliper is fixed. The design of the rear drum brakes is conventional. A viewing window is provided so that you can assess the wear of the pads without removing the drum. But the beam interferes with using it. Apparently, the engineers were in a great hurry when they "introduced" the nodes to each other.
LIGHT-KA
The good news is that there is no need to remove the headlights to replace the bulbs. After all, then the bumper would also have to be dismantled. Access is the same and acceptable from both sides. Dimensions and running lights combined in one lamp. It is not necessary to remove the tricky connector with a lock, it is enough to turn the cartridge counterclockwise. With a turn signal lamp, everything is the same.
The dipped beam lamp is secured with the usual spring clip. When replacing, you need to remove two rubber boot: on the lamp well and on the lamp connector. The first one is difficult to put back on. In addition to the well, it sits tightly on the lamp base and has three small holes for contacts - it is difficult to combine the first time. The cover on the connector can be tilted to the side, but it doesn't help much: the visibility is very limited due to the main cover. Access to lamps in PTF only from below. It is necessary to partially unscrew the wheel arch liner and bend it.
To replace the room backlight lamp, you must remove its case. To do this, press the tab on the right with a screwdriver. Remove the lamp holder by turning it counterclockwise.
The flashlights will have to be removed to replace the bulbs. They are fixed on two self-tapping screws and two guides that go into the body caps. It will not take much effort to remove.
TOTAL
Chevrolet-Cobalt scored 13.8 points (they correspond to the total number of standard hours spent on the above operations). In general, in service, it really turned out to be simpler and cheaper than the Aveo. No special skills are required from the owner. I am glad that the engineers made the correct drain plug for mechanical box... It’s a pity that they didn’t have enough enthusiasm to cut a window in the body for the fuel pump.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material. dealership Trinity Motors Belaya Dacha.
09.11.2016
Chevrolet Cobalt is a budget sedan with an original appearance, which motorists have not accepted unambiguously. The car sold well, but still, it did not become a sales leader. To date, Chevrolet Cobalt is not officially sold, therefore, those who want to get pop-eyed iron horse will be forced to look for it in the secondary market.
A bit of history:
The first generation of Chevrolet Cobalt was very popular in the USA, in our country, almost no one knew about the existence of this car, since it was not officially supplied to us. The second generation of the model was presented at the Buenos Aires auto show in 2011, the car was built on the “GM Gamma” platform, and the new “” is also built on it. The external dimensions of the car can be attributed to the European C-class, the total length of the car is 4470 mm, with a width of 1735 mm, and a height of 1514 mm.
Latin American designers tried to apply as many original solutions as possible in the design of the car, it turned out quite well, but it cannot be classified as elegant. Too stretched wheelbase (2.6 meters) does not add harmony to the exterior, but there are no problems with the space in the cabin. In models designed for the CIS market, one should not expect rich equipment. V basic configuration included power steering, central locking, one airbag and front power windows. For the rest of the "bells and whistles" had to pay extra. Initially, Cobalt was offered only in South America, a little later it appeared in the markets of the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Most of the cars for the CIS were assembled in Uzbekistan.
Advantages and disadvantages of Chevrolet Cobalt with mileage
Chevrolet Cobalt appeared on our market not so long ago, therefore, it is too early to talk about its corrosion resistance. However, it should be noted that to date, no serious problems with corrosion of the body have been identified, even in places where paint is chipped, rust does not appear for a long time. Paintwork even on cars that serve in taxis and have traveled 200,000 km, the reagents on the roads were not badly damaged. But with the build quality, not everything is so smooth, for example, many owners find water in the niche for the spare wheel, it gets there through the not covered slots behind rear bumper... To avoid problems, you need to cover all the seams with a sealant. Over time, many cars start fogging up their headlights, on the forums, the owners offer many ways to solve this problem, but, unfortunately, most of them are not effective.
Power units
For Chevrolet Cobalt, only one power unit is available - an aspirated gasoline with a volume of 1.5 (105 hp). This engine is installed on many cars of the concern and has established itself as a fairly reliable and unpretentious power unit. The timing drive is equipped with a metal chain that easily nurses 150-200 thousand km, replacing the chain will cost 200-250 cu. A big plus of this motor is that it is quite simple and cheap to maintain. So, for example, cheap candles for $ 4 are suitable here, they will last about 15,000 km, and to replace all filters, you need to spend only $ 25. After 50,000 km, the valve cover gasket begins to leak, this practically does not affect the oil consumption, but the entire power unit will be covered with oil drips. Gasoline consumption, as for such an engine, is quite large, on average, 9-11 liters per hundred go out in the city, fortunately, this engine no problem etching 92nd gasoline.
Transmission
Chevrolet Cobalt can be equipped with one of the gearboxes - a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode or a five-speed mechanics. Both boxes have a very simple design and a fairly long service life. As operating experience has shown, both transmissions are quite reliable, but minor flaws in them were nevertheless identified. The automatic transmission is very afraid of slipping, and if, for example, you constantly race at traffic lights, problems will not take long. In the cold season, many owners recommend warming up the transmission. The regulations say that both gearboxes are maintenance-free, however, in order to extend the life of the transmission, it is necessary to change the oil in it every 60,000 km. The clutch in mechanics, with careful operation, will last 80-100 thousand km, with racers it does not live up to 60,000 km.
Chassis Chevrolet Cobalt
A MacPherson-type suspension is installed in the front, a semi-independent beam at the rear. The suspension, the owners of the Chevrolet Cobalt, are praised for its energy intensity, it copes well with road irregularities, while providing good enough comfort for a budget car, but small shaking is not for this car. Front disc brakes (pads run up to 40,000 km), rear - drum (pads resource 60,000 km). Steering and the power steering are not a "sore spot" for this car, and up to 100,000 km do not present any surprises. The stabilizer struts and bushings are considered consumable and require replacement every 15-20 thousand km. Shock absorbers, on average, take care of 30-40 thousand km. Ball joints, wheel bearings run up to 60,000 km, thrust bearings and silent blocks live about 80,000 km. Intervention in rear suspension practically not required. If the car is equipped with ABS, monitor the condition of the sensors, as they quickly turn sour and begin to work incorrectly.
Salon
Like most budget cars Chevrolet Cobalt has cheap interior trim materials, as a result, the interior is very noisy, and with the onset of cold weather it is filled with a large range of soundtracks. Due to the fact that the machine does not have a large amount of electrical equipment, electrical failures are very rare. Although the electrical equipment cannot be called completely primitive, the CAN bus is still present here. The low quality of materials has its own plus, for example, the material wears out quickly enough and it becomes much easier to determine the mileage
Outcome:
Chevrolet Cobal is a car that has an acceptable level of comfort, a reference for this class of cars, suspension and good dynamics. The design here, of course, is not for everybody, the most important epithets for Cobalt will be reliability and simplicity, in other words, the best friend of taxi drivers and families who choose a car wisely and with a calculator. Chevrolet Cobalt would be a good alternative Renault Logan and Nissan Almera.
Advantages:
- Comfortable suspension.
- Spacious salon.
- Low maintenance cost.
- High ground clearance.
- Comfortable seating.
Disadvantages:
- High fuel consumption.
- Rattling salon
- Lack of soundproofing.
- Small resource of suspension parts.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.
Best regards, editors AutoAvenu
