Many Chevrolet Cruze owners have encountered the fact that the engine began to triple. There can be many reasons for the effect. Let's try to figure out how to fix the problem.
Engine Diagnostics
Why does the Chevrolet Cruze engine troit? Before proceeding with the analysis of the mechanical part of the malfunction, many owners and mechanics recommend diagnosing the car. Maybe you really shouldn’t go into the mechanical part and look for malfunctions there, but it’s just worth seeing what the electronic engine control unit will show in this case.
Chevrolet Cruze engine.
To carry out engine diagnostics, you will need a vehicle connection cable (OBD II), a laptop or tablet, and appropriate software.
Having connected and synchronized with the car, it diagnoses the state of the electronic control unit, and also analyzes the errors that it generated. Based on this information, you can understand whether all sensors are working properly and whether there are problems in the software.
The "CHECK" icon and tripling - what is the reason?
The next step is to check the engine sensors with a tester. They are diagnosed by ringing the contacts for operability in the on-board network and for the return of an impulse that goes to the computer. So, what sensors need to be checked:
- Coolant temperature sensor.
- Mass air flow sensor.
- Idling regulator.
- Knock sensor.
- Crankshaft position sensor.
If the meter fails, it must be replaced. After that, it is necessary to reset all errors that were found in the control unit. Completed with the electronic procedure.
Computer diagnostics as a troubleshooting method.
Malfunctions in systems
If it was not possible to detect a malfunction in the electronic part, then it is necessary to proceed to the analysis of the mechanical part. So, the occurrence of the tripling effect is influenced by one of three systems - air, fuel and spark. Therefore, it is worth checking each system separately.
Spark
In this case, it is worth considering the failure of spark plugs and high-voltage wires. Checking these elements is quite simple. First you need to remove the wires from the car. To do this, pull the tip of the wire from the candle, and the second from the ignition coil. Then, using a candle wrench, the spark plugs are unscrewed from the head of the block.
Troit - it's in the candles.
Diagnosis of candles is quite simple. First, you should inspect the elements visually for cracks or damage. Clean the contact group with a cloth if they are dirty and install the candle back. The high-voltage wire is checked with a resistance tester. Previously, each product should be inspected for insulation breakdown.
Could it be the spark plugs?
fuel cells
Three parts play a role in a quality fuel supply process: a pump, a filter and nozzles. First, we examine the direct elements of injection into the cylinders. To do this, they are removed from the vehicle and installed in a special stand that will show how suitable the parts are for further use. After that, it is worth carrying out the cleaning procedure.
Fuel filter — the cause of all troubles.
The next thing to check is the fuel pump. It is located in the fuel tank, and you can get to it only from the passenger compartment, having previously dismantled the rear sofa. After that, the power and fuel lines are turned off. Then, you need to take the fuel pump out and inspect the filter mesh. If it is dirty and clogged, then it should be replaced.
In the case of the fuel filter element, everything is simple - change. This part is non-separable and it will not be possible to accurately determine the condition.
Air supply
Another system without which the ignition of the air-fuel mixture is impossible. To begin with, it is worth dismantling the air filter element (air filter) and inspect its condition. If it is too dirty, then it should be replaced.
Self repair car.
In addition to the air filter, it is worth inspecting the condition of the throttle. An element that is too dirty can wedge and prevent air from passing into the combustion chamber normally. So, to clean it, you should first dismantle it, and then clean it with carburetor cleaner.
Also, sweep with the throttle, it is recommended to clean the air corrugation, which supplies air to the damper and the mass air flow sensor. The DMRV is equipped with an indicator grid that allows air to pass through and regulates the amount required for combustion. A clogged element can lead to incorrect readings. The damper, in turn, will not close to the desired position, which will lead to excess air in the combustion chamber.
Conclusion
The reasons why the engine on a Chevrolet Cruze troit can be determined independently, but not all motorists manage to eliminate them on their own. Therefore, if the induced materials in the article did not help, or turned out to be too difficult to understand, it is recommended to contact a car service.
In case of interruptions, the engine runs unstable at idle, does not develop sufficient power, and consumes gasoline excessively. In addition, the failure of the exhaust gas converter is possible. Interruptions, as a rule, are explained by a malfunction of the injectors or an electric fuel pump (see ""), a malfunction of the spark plug of one of the cylinders, or air leaks into one of the cylinders. You need to find the problem and fix it if possible.
1. Start the engine and let it idle. Go to the exhaust pipe and listen to the sound of the exhaust. You can bring your hand to the cut of the exhaust pipe - so interruptions are felt better. The sound should be smooth, "soft", one tone. Pops from the exhaust pipe at regular intervals indicate that one cylinder is not working due to the failure of the candle, the absence of a spark on it, the failure of the nozzle, a strong air leak into one cylinder or a significant decrease in compression in it. Popping at irregular intervals is due to dirty injector nozzles, heavy wear or dirty spark plugs. If pops occur at irregular intervals, you can try to replace the entire set of candles yourself, regardless of mileage and appearance, but it is better to do this after contacting a car service to diagnose and repair the engine control system.
2. If the pops are regular, stop the engine and open the hood. Check the condition of the ignition wires. The insulation of high voltage wires must not be damaged, and wire lugs must not be oxidized. If there is damage to the wires, replace the defective wire.
Useful advice: The simplest and at the same time effective way to check high-voltage wires is to check in the dark. Park the car in a dark place, start the engine and open the hood. Check the high voltage wires. If the insulation of the wires is broken, you will see a characteristic blue-violet spark ("Northern Lights"). In this case, high-voltage wires require mandatory replacement.
3. Remove the spark plugs (see " ").
Warning: When removing high voltage wire lugs, never pull on the wire itself. Grasp the tip directly with your hand, rotate it from side to side and then pull it out before removing it.
4. Inspect the candles and compare their appearance with the photographs shown in the next subsection "". If the candle is black and damp, it can be discarded.
5. If all the spark plugs look good, reinstall them and reconnect the high voltage wires. The order of operation of the cylinders is 1-3-4-2, the numbering of the cylinders (1, 2, 3, 4th) is carried out from the engine crankshaft pulley.
6. Get a spare spark plug. Fix it to the engine in any way.
Connect the high voltage wire of the 1st cylinder to the spare spark plug. Start the engine. If engine interruptions do not increase, replace the spark plug in the 1st cylinder with a known good one, put on a high-voltage wire and start the engine. If interruptions intensify, repeat this procedure sequentially with all cylinders to identify a faulty spark plug.
Warnings: Reliable contact of the spark plug body with the “ground” is mandatory, since if an additional spark gap appears that is larger than the gap between the spark plug electrodes, the high-voltage circuit of the ignition coil or the engine control unit may be damaged.
Try to carry out the check described above in the shortest possible period of time, since if unburned gasoline enters the catalytic converter for a long time, it may fail due to overheating, since gasoline will burn out in it.
If, as a result of the measures taken, engine interruptions are not eliminated, check the compression in each of the cylinders (see ""). Normal compression is more than 1.0 MPa (10 kgf / cm 2), a difference of more than 0.1 MPa (1 kgf / cm 2) in one cylinder indicates the need for engine repair.
The resulting jerking of the Chevrolet Cruze worsens the safety and driving comfort. The appearance of jerks can indicate both a serious malfunction and an easily repaired breakdown.
It is not worth delaying the identification of a problem, as this can lead to excessive wear of the main components of the car.
Ignition system
The most common cause of twitching in a Chevrolet Cruze is misfiring due to faulty spark plugs. To fix the damage, you need to change them to new ones.
If replacing a set of spark plugs did not help, the fault may be hiding in the ignition module. To diagnose a malfunction, it is necessary to check the coils and high-voltage wires. If a defective element is found, it must be replaced.
When a car reaches 120 thousand kilometers, car owners face problems in the throttle assembly. The car ceases to receive a fuel-air mixture of a normal composition. To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to remove the throttle assembly and clean the damper. 
nozzles
The absence of a normal spray jet is the cause of the unstable operation of the power plant. As a result, the car twitches both when starting off and during acceleration.
To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to flush the nozzles from deposits that have formed due to the presence of resins in gasoline.
If cleaning does not help and the spray pattern does not become normal, then the defective nozzle must be replaced.
Filters
Negligent attitude to maintenance can also be the reason why the traction was lost and the car began to twitch. The most common clogged oil filter. The lack of normal circulation of lubricant in the circuit leads to excessive forces in the friction units.
Scuffs appear on the surfaces, the engine stops working stably and the Chevrolet Cruze starts to twitch. To fix the problem, you need to change the filter and oil. In the event that excessive wear has appeared, a complete disassembly of the power plant and troubleshooting of the main elements is necessary.
A clogged fuel filter can be the cause of the car jerking at speed and during acceleration. The lack of normal pressure in the fuel line leads to an unstable supply of fuel to the injectors. Therefore, the engine runs normally at low speeds, but when a load appears, it starts to fail. To fix the problem, you must remove the fuel filter and clean it.
The reason why the car twitches may be hiding in a clogged air filter. This problem usually occurs gradually. The engine no longer receives the normal composition of the air-fuel mixture. As a result, its power drops and the car twitches during acceleration. To fix the problem, you need to remove the old filter element and replace it with a new one.
Unsuccessful modernization by the car owner
The most common reason why a car twitches after modernization is chip tuning.
Incorrect reconfiguration of the engine control unit leads to the fact that the power plant of the car stops working stably. This in turn causes the Chevrolet Cruze to twitch.
To fix the problem, you need to return everything to the factory settings or contact the tuning studio for a normal reconfiguration of the engine ECU.
In the most difficult cases, jerking is caused by replacing the standard elements of the power plant with stock ones. This kind of tuning is most often resorted to by the owners of a Chevrolet Cruze with a 1.6-liter engine. In this case, it is necessary to replace non-native elements with branded ones.
Clutch
A sporty driving style results in excessive clutch wear. The problem is especially relevant for cars with a 1.8-liter power unit. As a result, vibration and jerking appear when starting off, as well as at speed. The amplitude and intensity of the jerks can vary depending on the rpm. To fix the problem, the clutch basket assembly is usually changed.
Transmission
In cars with a manual transmission, it is rare that the cause of the jerking of the car is due to the manual transmission. This situation is only possible due to the fact that the box is excessively worn out. Most often, jerks occur in first gear.
The automatic is less reliable compared to the mechanics. Damage to the friction packs and torque converter leads to vibrations and jerks during acceleration.
To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to diagnose the gearbox and replace the failed elements. Very often, car owners resort to buying a contract automatic transmission.
The operation of an automatic transmission is directly dependent on oil. In the system, it performs not only a lubricating role, but also transmits force. Therefore, its untimely replacement causes a lack of normal operation of the machine and the car starts to twitch. In most cases, it is impossible to solve the problem with a simple replacement; it is necessary to disassemble the automatic transmission and flush the system.
Chevrolet Cruze. Increased fuel consumption
| List of possible malfunctions | Diagnostics | Elimination Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Clogged air filter element | Check the condition of the air filter element | Blow out or replace the air filter element |
| Leakage of the power system | Gasoline smell, fuel leaks | Check the tightness of the connections of the fuel system elements; if a malfunction is found, replace the corresponding components |
| Faulty spark plugs: current leakage through cracks in the insulator or carbon deposits on the thermal cone, poor contact of the central electrode | Candles are checked on a special stand at the service station. The absence of external damage and sparking between the electrodes on an inverted candle does not allow us to conclude that it is working | Replace spark plugs |
| Throttle Actuator Malfunction | Check the stroke of the “gas” pedal, the gap in the drive (free play of the pedal), make sure that the cable and pedal are not jammed | Replace defective parts, lubricate the cable with engine oil |
| Faulty idle speed controller or its circuits | Substitute a known-good regulator. | |
| Throttle not fully closing | The gap between the throttle valve and the walls of the housing is visible through the light | Replace Throttle Assembly |
| Increased pressure in the fuel line due to a malfunction of the pressure regulator | Check the pressure in the fuel system with a pressure gauge (no more than 3.5 bar) | Replace failed regulator |
| Nozzle leakage | Check injectors | Replace faulty injectors |
| Faulty coolant temperature sensor or circuit | Check the resistance of the sensor with an ohmmeter at different temperatures | Restore contact in electrical circuits, replace the faulty sensor |
| Faulty oxygen concentration sensor | You can evaluate the performance of the oxygen concentration sensor and the reliability of the connections of its electrical circuits using diagnostic equipment at the service station | Repair damaged electrical circuits, replace the faulty sensor |
| Faulty computer or its circuits | Substitute a known-good ECU to test. | Replace faulty ECU, repair damaged electrical circuits |
| Low compression in the engine cylinders (less than 11.0 bar): gaps in the drive are not adjusted, wear or damage to valves, their guide bushings and seats, occurrence or breakage of piston rings | Check compression | Adjust valve clearances. Replace defective parts |
| Faulty throttle position sensor, absolute pressure and air temperature sensors in the intake manifold or their circuits | Check sensors and their circuits | Restore contact in electrical circuits, replace the faulty sensor (sensors) |
| Increased resistance to the movement of gases in the exhaust system | Inspect the exhaust system for dented and damaged pipes, check the condition of the catalytic converter | Replace damaged exhaust system components |
| Malfunctions of the running gear and brake system | Check chassis components and brake system | Adjust the wheel alignment, replace the faulty parts of the chassis, repair the brake system |
Reasons for high fuel consumption
There are several typical mistakes that inexperienced drivers make, leading to excessive fuel consumption. Remember that the excess amount of gasoline or diesel fuel will be consumed when:
The operation of the air conditioner or climate control system. The operation of these devices is associated with the operation of the compressor. Indeed, to rotate the pump pulley, energy is needed, which is taken from the rotating crankshaft. And it requires additional fuel.
The operation of the heating system. This applies not only to the operation of the "stove", but also to the heating of seats, windows and mirrors (in cars where these options are provided). The logic here is similar to the situation described above.
Sharp acceleration. If you like to pull away hard at traffic lights or other places, then be prepared for the fact that your car will use more fuel than usual. This is due to the fact that any transient process (in this case, setting the car in motion) is associated with increased energy consumption. And the sharper it is, the more energy is needed. Therefore, try to move smoothly. So you not only save fuel, but also save tires, clutch and powertrain components.
Engine operation at high speeds. Try not to overdo it. This will not only save fuel for your car, but will also have a positive effect on the operation of the engine as a whole.
Use of poor quality fuel. Try to refuel at proven gas stations and fill the tank with the brand of fuel recommended by the automaker. After all, bad fuel burns worse, provides insufficient energy and requires additional fuel costs.
Technical reasons for the increase in fuel consumption
First, let's deal with the technical problems that contribute to an increase in gasoline consumption in a car. Let's find out the most common causes associated with the engine and other elements, due to which the consumption increases.
Engine wear
Usually occurs due to the high mileage of the car or its improper operation. Some points related to the operation of the engine:
The temperature of the coolant (coolant) is lower than calculated;
- wear of the cylinder-piston group;
- wear of the crank mechanism;
- wear of the gas distribution mechanism and unadjusted valve clearances.
Clutch wear
When the driver needs to keep high speeds in order to move off and shift to a higher gear, this directly affects fuel consumption. In this case, replacing the clutch will help.
One of the reasons for increased fuel consumption is the wear of the clutch disc. The situation here is quite simple. The engine consumes more fuel during starting than at constant speed. This fact is present even with a good clutch. If the disk or other parts of the system are faulty, then it turns out that the fuel is consumed, and the car stands still. The more often the car starts off, the greater the excess fuel consumption takes place.
In critical cases, a similar situation can occur even when driving in constant mode. That is, when the clutch disc does not provide synchronous rotation of the engine and gearbox. This situation, although rare, can happen in the most "neglected" cases.
Diagnosing clutch wear is fairly simple. To do this, you need to put the car on the handbrake, turn on fifth or fourth gear (depending on the gearbox, that is, the highest) and try to move off. If at the same time you did not turn off the engine with gas, this means that the clutch needs to be repaired or completely changed.
Ignition set incorrectly
An incorrectly set ignition is also the cause of increased fuel consumption. In particular, if the engine "troits", then gasoline from an idle cylinder is thrown directly into the exhaust system. This leads not only to excessive fuel consumption, but also to increased wear of the catalyst.
If the ignition is simply set incorrectly, then a situation arises when the fuel does not completely burn out. That is, a spark occurs before the fuel mixture appears in the cylinder in full, or after. In any case, this leads to its incomplete combustion. And this automatically means that the fuel is wasted.
Therefore, always monitor the condition of the ignition system. The amount of fuel consumed directly depends on this. In addition, an incorrectly set ignition system can cause problems when starting the engine.
Tire wear
If the tires are worn out enough or the pressure in them is less than normal, then this will also lead to the fact that the car will start to “eat” more than it should. In such a situation, it is necessary to replace the tires, and regularly check the tire pressure.
Low-profile tires with a wide tread create increased resistance and, accordingly, increased fuel consumption.
Brake system malfunctions
They are different, consider those that lead to incomplete unclenching of the calipers when the so-called “wedging” occurs. If the caliper is not fully unclenched, then over time, not only the brake pads, but also the discs become unusable. Due to excessive friction and resistance, fuel consumption naturally increases.
Broken spark plugs
Through unsuitable candles, the car does not work correctly, as a result - an additional load on the engine. This leads not only to the fact that there is a large fuel consumption, but also to a general deterioration in performance. To avoid, it is necessary to check the candles.
Such a check includes examining the color of soot, measuring the electrode gap, checking the resistor for breakdown. It is also worth paying attention to the junction of the white insulator to the threaded part of the candle - a red coating is unacceptable.
Clogged injectors or carburetor
Clogged injectors are one of the most common causes of wasted fuel. They clog due to natural causes. These are the use of low-quality gasoline, the untimely replacement of the fuel filter, the ingress of dirt into the engine compartment, and so on.
With clogged nozzles, a violation of the shape of the fuel spray jet in the combustion chamber occurs. Because of this, the formation of the fuel mixture is disrupted. That is, more gasoline is used for this process than is necessary under normal conditions.
In some cases, due to clogged injectors, the engine may start to “troit”. This is expressed in a decrease in the dynamic characteristics of the car. It is also possible to run the engine for a long time at high speeds, even at idle. This in itself leads to an increase in fuel consumption.
Similar reasoning is valid for cars with a carburetor engine. When the carburetor is clogged, the same situation arises with excessive consumption of gasoline and a drop in dynamic performance.
Therefore, always monitor the condition of the fuel system, in particular, the injectors on the injection engine and the carburetor on the carburetor. Their clogging is a direct cause of excessive fuel consumption.
Low-octane fuel also has a great effect on consumption (for a low price and poor quality, it comes down to quantity).
Breakage of the lambda probe or DMRV
The failure of the oxygen sensor (lambda probe) can also lead to a significant waste of fuel. Its task is to control the amount of oxygen that goes into the fuel mixture. Therefore, if this sensor is faulty, the mixture will not be created correctly, and this will lead to excessive fuel consumption.
The lambda probe is quite fragile. There are a number of reasons why it might fail. Among them:
Depressurization of its body and penetration into its exhaust gases;
- overheating of the sensor (this may be caused by incorrect operation of the ignition system);
- natural aging and wear;
-problems with the car's electrical network;
- mechanical damage to the sensor.
Similar reasoning is also valid in relation to the mass air flow sensor (DMRV). It is designed to regulate the level of air supply to the engine cylinders. Sensor failures are easy to identify. As a rule, in this case, the engine starts to work unstably, especially at idle (very high or low “jumping” speed), loss of dynamic characteristics (the car accelerates poorly). The mass air flow sensor is beyond repair. It can only be replaced, although cleaning it can temporarily fix the situation.
Clogged air filter
The recommended replacement interval is every 15,000 km. Timely replacement of the air filter is required, because if it is clogged and you ignored it, then be prepared for the car to have a good appetite.
The flow rate is also affected by the use of air filter elements with heavy fabric pre-cleaners, since, as with a clogged filter, air resistance increases. Lightweight filter elements are recommended to minimize airflow resistance.
