Weak points of the Chevrolet Aveo T250. Weaknesses of the Chevrolet Aveo, what about reliability from operating experience Typical malfunctions and problems

Chevrolet Aveo engine 1.4 liters the compact car was present in two versions, first it was the F14D3 with a power of 94 hp, then the modernized F14D4 developing 101 hp. These are in-line 4-cylinder 16-valve naturally aspirated gasoline engines with a cast-iron block and a timing belt. The more powerful F14D4 now has a variable valve timing system, which not only increases power, but also makes the exhaust more environmentally friendly.

It is quite easy to distinguish the older version of F14D3 from the newer F14D4. On the cover of the 94 hp engine it says ETEC II, on the 101 hp ECOTEC. Our story will mainly focus on the F14D4 engine model.

Engine Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 liters

The Aveo 1.4 injection engine with a power of 101 horsepower is based on a cast iron cylinder block. The crankshaft is secured using 5 caps, which are not interchangeable, since they are processed together with the cylinder block assembly. The ignition system now has individual ignition coils (one for each cylinder), an electronic throttle valve, without a mechanical drive. The engine was developed by Opel engineers. But since Opel belongs to General Motors Corporation, the development began to be actively used on Chevrolet and even Daewoo models.

Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 block head aluminum with two camshafts. On the camshaft pulleys there are actuators for the variable valve timing system (phase shifters). Phase shifters operate solely due to oil pressure, which is supplied through channels to the cylinder head, and the pressure is regulated by a special solenoid valve.

The 16-valve mechanism does not have hydraulic compensators. The thermal gap is regulated by selecting pushers of different thicknesses. Therefore, if you hear a sound similar to a diesel engine or other rattling, you should know that it is definitely not hydraulic compensators. Most likely, problems began with the normal functioning (due to insufficient oil pressure) of the phase shifters.

Timing device Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 liters

There are a number of important points in the Aveo 1.4 timing drive. Firstly, there is no longer a pump involved in the belt drive. The coolant pump rotates on a separate belt, together with the generator. Although on old version In the F14D3 engine, the pump pulley not only rotated due to the timing belt, it also served as a tensioner for the entire drive. Moreover, now the timing belt needs to be replaced once every 150 thousand mileage! Aveo 1.4 timing diagram in the next photo.

Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 liter engine characteristics

• Working volume – 1399 cm3
• Number of cylinders – 4
• Number of valves – 16
• Cylinder diameter – 77.9 mm
• Piston stroke – 73.4 mm
• Timing drive - belt (DOHC)
• Power hp (kW) – 101 (74) at 6400 rpm. per minute
• Torque – 131 Nm at 4200 rpm. per minute
• Maximum speed – 165 km/h
• Acceleration to the first hundred – 13.1 seconds
• Fuel type – gasoline AI-95
• Compression ratio – 10.5
• Fuel consumption in the city – 8.6 liters
• Fuel consumption on the highway – 5.1 liters
• Fuel consumption in the combined cycle – 6.4 liters

In our country, the Aveo with this engine was combined with both a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

It would seem that something could break down in the transmission of a car whose most powerful engines are just over 100 horsepower? You won’t believe it, but it is in terms of mechanics that the Chevrolet Aveo has obvious punctures. The CV joint boots and the joints themselves are not particularly durable; even on cars with a weak 1.2, these parts fail after driving for one and a half hundred thousand kilometers.

Lightly tapping CV joints can last quite a long time; many particularly thrifty drivers do not change a part that seems to be out of order and only stuff more lubricant under the new boot. Surprisingly, the design lasts for tens of thousands of kilometers.

In the photo: Chevrolet Aveo 5-door (T200) "2003–08

Most cars are equipped with manual transmissions of several series. All of them trace their origins back to Opel’s F 10/F 13 gearboxes and even remain interchangeable with them. True, Korean cars do not use high-tech release bearings combined with a hydraulic cylinder; they make do with a classic “release bearing” with a fork.

The design of the D 13 box, which was installed with 1.2 engines, is frankly unsuccessful. It's just a collection of bad decisions in manual transmission design. Thus, weak bearings often began to hum at mileage of up to 70 thousand. The shafts are relatively reliable, and repairs in the event of severe wear are relatively inexpensive. But the synchronizers also fail, the fifth gear gets stuck, the differential suffers from welding of the satellite axle... And on top of that, the oil seals still leak, which often leads to the “draining” of the gearbox and its rapid death. In general, as in the song, “life is on the edge”...

In the photo: Chevrolet Aveo Sedan (T250) "2006–11

To prevent the boxes from dying in batches, in guarantee period Oil change intervals have been shortened many times over - the latest unofficial recommendations suggested changing it every 30 thousand kilometers. Unfortunately, many car owners consider this unnecessary. By the way, regular ATF works great in the box instead of the original oil; this is a frequently practiced substitution. But it’s still better to change the gearbox to a D 16, even if this entails some modifications to the mounts and replacement of the drives.

In stock D 16 is installed on 1.4 and 1.6 engines. This manual transmission also has Opel roots and is close in design to the F 16. The only troubles here are oil leaks through the seals. Otherwise, this is a fairly strong unit - in any case, it gets along with such weak engines without problems.

Cost of front brake pads

for the original

2,077 rubles

Against the backdrop of troubles with the manual transmission, the operation of the Aisin automatic transmission looks like the height of reliability. After all, they installed a 60-41SN / 60-40LE box here, which easily withstands the torque of 1.4 and 1.6 engines and does not even overheat. With regular oil changes, it can withstand 200-250 thousand kilometers until the first repairs - replacing the gas turbine linings and cleaning the valve body and replacing the linear pressure solenoid. And even for “racers” who do not change their oil on time, the first problems rarely appear before 150-200 thousand mileage.

Noticeably less common with 1.4 engines is a weaker version of the automatic transmission, Aisin 81-40LE. This version of the box is essentially little different from the 60-40LE, but withstands noticeably less torque. In addition to all of the above, the planetary gear is also at risk. However, it is still less hassle than with a manual transmission, and with careful operation, the service life also exceeds 200-250 thousand kilometers before major repairs.

Motors

The Aveo didn’t have that many engines, but nevertheless, there is a little confusion. Many people still call the engines of the E-TEC II family “Opel”, although they have never installed them on European cars.

In general, all E-TEC units are developed on the basis of GM licenses and Opel developments, but they are modified by Daewoo and manufactured in Korea or Australia. Despite the common design, there is a difference with European models.

Before restyling in 2007, the B 12S 1 and F 14D 3 engines were installed with a camshaft belt drive. These are sister engines on a modified Family I block. True, the 1.2 engine has only 2 valves per cylinder, while the 1.4 already has 4 - respectively, and the cylinder heads differ significantly.

After restyling, the engines were replaced by the B 12D 1, this is the Family 0 family with a timing chain drive and 16 valves and the F 14D 4 engine, which belongs to the “old” Family 1 family and has a timing belt drive, but in design is more reminiscent of European engines and That’s why it’s called “Opel” by many.

It is quite easy to distinguish the motors. Which 1.2 is installed can be seen from the design: the new motor is smaller and its timing case is not visible - it is a chain one, after all. 1.4 engines can be distinguished by their nameplate power: the newer one has 101 hp, versus 94 for the old one. Well, on the top cover the inscription “Ecotec” instead of “E-TEC” proudly flaunts. The shape of the timing case and the location of the attachments are also different.

All belt motors have a well-developed design with sufficient service life. Even small 1.2s can travel 200-250 thousand kilometers before a major overhaul with replacement of the piston group, and when using high-quality oils and short replacement intervals, the mileage before intervention in the piston group will be more than 350 thousand, there are plenty of such examples.

But, unfortunately, there are nuances. At a minimum, all owners will encounter leaks of seals and gaskets. After all, the crankcase ventilation system here is primitive and needs to be cleaned, and the hole in the throttle body simply becomes clogged. Oil seals should be changed whenever possible, and gaskets should only be used fresh, without reinstalling.

The cooling system is not made of the best materials and is prone to cracking of pipes, expansion tank and thermostat. The latter is not very scary, because the temperature drops minimally, which makes life easier for older engines in hot climates, but in winter, owners suffer from underheating of the interior.

Radiator cost

for the original

8,933 rubles

Plastic cylinder head covers on 16-valve 1.4 engines are also not ideal; there are frequent cases of warping and oil leaks into spark plug wells. Well, the EGR valve on all engines not only heavily pollutes the intake manifold, but also significantly reduces the power and service life of the engine.

Motors with catalytic collectors also risk the piston group when it falls off; this usually happens with runs of more than 150-200 thousand kilometers, but starts in severe cold can lead to earlier failure of the catalyst. Well, leaks in the gas tank ventilation system due to the tube rubbing against the rear shock absorber can lead to its contamination and problems with the pump and injectors.

There are also troubles specific to each engine model, and more serious ones. For eight-valve 1.2 B 12S 1, if oil change intervals of 10 thousand kilometers are not observed or low-viscosity oils are used for runs of more than 100 thousand kilometers, the camshaft beds can lift up. And this is serious. By the way, Opel ones with 8-valve engines or Nexia ones with 1.5 engines are suitable. The reason is a clogged oil supply nozzle. By the way, it is recommended to drill it out, if the motor is still alive, to a diameter of 1.2 mm. And the timing belt needs to be changed not according to the regulations, but after 60 thousand mileage, and together with all the rollers. And change the pump no less often than after one timing belt replacement.

L-arm cost

for the original

3,976 rubles

The restyled B 12D 1 engines have a relatively short timing chain resource, about 100-150 thousand kilometers. And therefore it is worth listening carefully to the sounds of the chain during a cold start. The chain is thin and breaks easily, but more often it just jumps and bends the valves.

With F 14D 3 engines the situation is even more unpleasant. Incorrectly selected clearances in the valve-bushing pair cause them to “hang”, which over time leads to burnouts and other unpleasant consequences, up to the destruction of camshafts. The recall campaign has long passed, but there are still cars that have been suffering from this problem for a long time, and the owners valiantly ignore all the symptoms.

Poor starting and decreased compression for this engine with mileages of up to 150 thousand kilometers most often mean a quick repair of the cylinder head. Well, or replacing it with an Opel one, which is also a good option and even cheaper. High-voltage wires also need to be changed regularly; often the engine loses a lot of power precisely because of them. The intake manifold becomes dirty, the vacuum drives do not work correctly, the throttle becomes clogged, and the idle air valve requires regular cleaning.

The F 14D 4 is initially free from such a problem, but it also has its own subtleties. Thus, the condition of the intake manifold flaps most often does not allow the development of full power: EGR and oil from the crankcase ventilation system are to blame, as well as weak plastic flaps.

Individual ignition coils are noticeably more expensive than wires and ignition modules, and they easily fail due to oil leaks. So you will have to regularly, at least once every 60 thousand, change the cylinder head cover gaskets if you do not want to change more expensive parts. Phase regulators may knock when starting up. The problem is most often in the valves or contamination of the valve nets, but if you drive for a long time with a knock, then the phase regulator couplings themselves will require replacement.

And watch for oil leaks from the couplings, in otherwise The timing belt can fail much earlier than expected. The valve clearances need to be adjusted - the engine does not have hydraulic compensators. An electronic throttle is required, otherwise there may be dips in speed when switching and strong idle “swimming”.

A rare 1.6 engine is usually the F 16D 4, as on, it was installed only on cars for the USA, so Aveo with such an engine is rare in our country. But in operation it is no different from the F 14D 4 engines.

In the photo: Chevrolet Aveo Sedan (T250) "2006–11

Summary

The first generation Aveo is a very inexpensive car. True, it is not very cheap to operate - at least if you use dealer service and do not delve into the essence of the problems. And if you approach repair and maintenance wisely, then spare parts are inexpensive, and the work usually doesn’t cost exorbitant amounts of money, because everything here is quite simple.

Your voice

The Chevrolet Aveo T250 has been produced since 2003. The car is equipped with 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 liter engines. During the entire period of operation, car owners identified the weakest points of the Aveo T250. It is worth noting that the car turned out to be quite unpretentious in maintenance and repair. In addition, if you use it carefully, do maintenance on time, monitor the level and quality of oil in the main units, then the Chevrolet Aveo will serve you faithfully for quite a long time. For example, the engines in these cars run from 250-350 thousand km without overhaul. Below are the main diseases of the Chevrolet Aveo T250:

Engine: One of the sore spots is the oil pressure sensor. The failure of this part is indicated by the oil light on the instrument panel. It is inexpensive and easy to change. The corrugation of the air filter is also not long-lived. Here we advise you to check its condition for cracks, because dust and sand getting into the engine does not bode well. Owners often complain about oil leaks from under the valve covers, the culprit is the gasket, it costs a penny and is easy to change. Also, not very often, a failure of the throttle valve drive is noted. As for fuel consumption, this is certainly not the strength of this car model. Motorists see a way out of this situation by installing gas equipment. Fortunately, the use of GO with these engines has proven itself well.

Chassis The suspension is perhaps the weakest point of the Aveo T250. When used on our roads, such spare parts as: stabilizer bushings, rear shock absorbers, front arm silent blocks - turn into consumables. Stable up to 60 thousand km. mileage, one of the above requires replacement. Sometimes at an interval of 40-80 thousand km. There is a tapping sound from the rack. The reason for this is the wear of the right gear shaft bushing.

Electrics In the range of 60-120 thousand km. There are cases of oxidation of the headlight contacts, as a result of which there is a possibility of the headlight range control motor burning out. There are also cases where it is necessary to replace the generator bearing after 70 thousand km. mileage

Body In general, the quality of the paintwork on the Aveo in the T250 body is at the same level. Even after 5-7 years of operation, the body is resistant to corrosion. What cannot be said about cars painted exactly white. There are body cracks in the area of ​​the rear arches, but this is typical only for Aveos assembled in Ukraine. By the way, after 2008, this jamb was corrected.

Cooling Often in the range of 60-90 thousand km, problems occur with. This is due to a broken thermostat. The thermostat begins to either leak or untimely release coolant in a large circle. With a mileage of 40-80 thousand km. There are times when the expansion tank cap begins to “siphon.” The reason for this is a stuck valve.

Salon In principle, as with all cars, over time, extraneous sounds and various squeaks appear in the cabin. In our case, they come from the front panel and from the rear seat back lock.

Transmission The gearbox here is more or less stable. According to statistics, under severe operating conditions, such as in the city, the release bearing requires replacement in the interval of 50-100 thousand km. As for the clutch, it may need to be replaced in the interval of 100-150 thousand km. Much also depends on the quality and driving style.

To summarize, we can say that the Chevrolet Aveo T250 is a fairly comfortable, reliable and inexpensive car for the money. The Aveo T250 was assembled in Russia, Ukraine, Korea, and Europe, so weak points and sores may differ. The main problem is the gasket under the valve cover, which allows engine oil to pass through, and the weak point can be attributed to increased fuel consumption.

The Chevrolet Aveo T250 began production in 2006. It replaced the T200 model and received a more modern body. The equipment generally remains the same, however, specifications have improved. The attractive design, especially compared to the previous version, made an impression, and the new Aveo quickly won a wide audience of buyers. It became one of the favorites in the market and still sells well to this day. In ten years, the car has managed to prove itself, so you and I have the opportunity to consider it from a practical point of view, based on the experience of the owners.

general characteristics

"Aveo T250" is made in three versions. The most popular of them is the 5-door sedan. There is also a hatchback, with three and five doors. The model is assembled in China, Korea, Poland and Ukraine. Chinese cars assembled at a GM subsidiary received the highest ratings from owners. Chinese-assembled models are distinguished primarily by a 1.6-liter engine and good equipment. Minor differences include a body-colored grille, a chrome trim strip between the taillights, and wood trim throughout the cabin. Chinese versions are made using the sedan body type.

Body

Compared to the previous version, the Chevrolet Aveo T250 has a more corrosion-resistant body. However, anti-corrosion treatment is very appropriate, as on any other budget car. Unfortunately, the metal from which the body is made is very soft. Just pushing the car can leave a dent in it. As for the optics, on some cars they are not sealed enough, resulting in fogging of the headlights. Basically, this is where the weak points of the Aveo T250 sedan end. "Aveo T200" had a serious drawback - a weak weld seam securing the shelf between the cups of the rear pillars. In the second generation this defect was corrected.

Salon

The interior of the Aveo T250 is similar to its older brother, but has a lot of useful improvements. The Chinese version has a beige finish, while all others have a dark gray finish. Light finishes look more expressive, but they are very impractical and need to be handled with extreme care. The interior is trimmed with hard, but not creaky, plastic. Due to the wide side pillars, there is not enough visibility when cornering. The sound insulation of the body is frankly rather weak. In the back row, passengers of average height can fit quite comfortably, however, three of them will be cramped. Compared to its closest competitor - Daewoo Lanos, the Aveo T250's interior is narrower, and the backs of the rear row seats are more vertical. But the seat position is a little higher. The luggage compartment has a volume of 320 liters, which is small compared to competitors.

Engine

All Chevrolet Aveo T250 models are equipped with gasoline engines. The most common of them is a 1.5-liter, 8-valve unit, which has proven itself well in the last generation of cars. With proper operation, it can be used without major repairs for up to 500 thousand km. However, it happens that after 200 thousand mileage the rocker arms move out of their working position due to wear of the hydraulic compensators. Therefore, when valves knock, it is necessary to check the hydraulic compensators and, if necessary, replace them. In the cars of those who like to drive at high speeds, the camshaft gasket and oil seal may lose their tightness over time.

The Chinese 1.6-liter engine can have both in-line and V-shaped cylinders. Its main advantage is higher power with almost the same appetite as the 1.5-liter engine. This motor also did not reveal any serious “illnesses”, so you can safely buy it. There is only one typical problem - a leaking valve cover gasket.

The timing belt of both engines needs to be changed along with the rollers every 6 thousand kilometers. But the pump, which is driven by this same belt, lasts twice as long.

The car has a fairly substantial appetite - about 10 liters per 100 km, which is why many owners install LPG on it. As practice shows, engines powered by gas units last no worse than those powered by gasoline. Tuning the Aveo T250 makes it possible to improve the performance of the engine, but it is usually not resorted to.

Transmission

The lion's share of cars in this model are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. There will be no more than 20% of cars with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Both boxes suffer from poor sealing of the axle shaft seals and the crunching sound of the outer grenades. Therefore, sometimes these elements have to be changed. Otherwise, both gearboxes are quite reliable. The manufacturer has successfully eliminated several problems that were typical in the previous version of the car. The clutch has a hydraulic drive, which deserves only one comment - the noise of the release bearing.

Suspension

The chassis has high energy consumption and copes well with defects on our roads. However, during sharp maneuvering, the body tilts noticeably. Therefore, the car is more suitable for measured driving.

The design of the Aveo T250 suspension is similar to the previous version - independent McPherson strut in front and semi-independent beam in the rear. The suspension is well adapted to our realities and lasts quite a long time. can serve for a distance of up to 50 thousand km, but the silent blocks of the front levers, ball joints and usually withstand a mileage of up to 100 thousand km.

Steering and braking system

The Aveo T250 steering wheel is equipped with a hydraulic booster. This unit is sometimes susceptible to leakage of the steering shaft oil seal. Even less often, wear of the power steering is observed, which is manifested by a characteristic knocking sound. Steering ends last 60-80 thousand km, and rods last up to 100 thousand. The brake system works flawlessly, however, sometimes it breaks down.

Conclusion

This car deservedly received the status of one of the sales leaders in the post-Soviet budget car market. Aveo combines reasonable cost, reliability, adaptability to our roads and inexpensive maintenance. The car is well suited for any audience of budget buyers. It is moderately modern and looks better than some of its competitors. Easy tuning of the Aveo T250 will make the car even more interesting and forget about the desire to change the car for several years.

In 2012, production of the Chevrolet Aveo T250 model was discontinued. The price of a car on the secondary market today is from 5 thousand dollars. But the history of the car does not end there, because since 2012 it has been produced in Ukraine under the name Apart from the name, nothing has changed in the car. The new Vida costs about 12 thousand dollars.

Aveo was developed back in the days of Daewoo. In some markets, including Russian, it was offered under the Chevrolet brand.

Body

The car was produced in three body styles: 3- and 5-door hatchback and sedan. The latter was modernized in 2006, the hatchback only two years later. The developers failed to hide the outdated design. Proof of this was the results of crash tests according to Euro NCAP. The sedan was tested after restyling. The car earned only two stars, which were reduced to one after stricter requirements.

As a consolation, we can say that the Aveo is adequately protected from corrosion. True, the paint peels off on many specimens, but this does not contribute to the emergence of pockets of corrosion. The exception is the rear trunk door of a hatchback: brown spots appear around the lock and the strip above the number.

Equipment

All Aveos come standard with a driver airbag, a split-folding rear seat and a height-adjustable steering column. In addition, richer versions have 4 airbags, a music system that plays MP3 files, power steering, central locking and front electric windows. Air conditioning was installed only in the top-end LT trim level, and was available for an additional fee in other versions.

Suspension

Owners note the short service life of the suspension elements. However, it should be emphasized that it has a very simple design (McPherson in front, and a torsion beam in the rear) and the low cost of spare parts and repairs. A set of front levers will cost approximately 1,500-2,000 rubles, a set of front shock absorbers can be purchased for less than 2,500 rubles, and rear shock absorbers for 1,000 rubles. All spare parts are always in stock, including original ones from large wholesalers.

Engines

The Chevrolet Aveo was offered only with gasoline engines. Unfortunately, none of them are economical. Even the youngest 1.2-liter engine with 72 hp. consumes about 8.5 liters of gasoline in the city. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to engines with a displacement of 1.4 and 1.6 liters - they are, according to at least, provide acceptable dynamics.

All Aveo power units have hydraulic valve lash compensators, and the 16-valve 1.2 liter has a timing chain drive. The vast majority of owners do not complain about the reliability and durability of the motors. True, if you do not take into account minor problems with the ignition system.

Much more inconvenience is caused by the delicate clutch of a manual transmission (the cost of a new one is about 3,000 rubles), and besides, the bearings in the gearbox wear out quickly. IN the latter case It is often more expedient to purchase a used box for 4000-5000 rubles.

Conclusion

Chevrolet Aveo of the first generation does not deserve a lot of attention. Many competitors offer better levels of safety and comfort. But, if someone is looking for a cheap and well-maintained car, then this option should not be discounted. A well-equipped Aveo from the first owner with low mileage and at an attractive price is a tempting offer.

Model history

2002 – presentation of the model, factory designation T200

2003 – start of production

2006 – restyling of the sedan version

2008 – lifting of the hatchback version

After restyling, the sedan and hatchback received the factory designation T250

2011 – generation change

Typical faults and problems

Rapid wear of suspension elements. Fortunately, repairs are very cheap.

Light bulbs often burn out. The problem concerns, first of all, low beam and dimensions. In a sedan, access to them is difficult: the easiest way to get there is to remove the headlight.

Poor quality of paintwork: the paint soon chips, but the body does not bloom in places where it is chipped.

Wear of floor covering.

Technical characteristics of Chevrolet Aveo I (2003-2011)

Version	1.2 8V	1.2 16V	1.4 8V	1.4 16V	1.6 16V
Engine	petrol	petrol	petrol	petrol	petrol
Working volume	1148 cm3	1148 cm3	1399 cm3	1399 cm3	1598 cm3
Cylinder/Valve Arrangement	R 4/8	R4/16	R 4/8	R4/16	R4/16
Maximum power	72 hp	84 hp	83 hp	94 hp	106 hp
Maximum torque	104 Nm