Chevrolet Cobalt, Nexia, Gentra and Lacetti weak points: what to check

Which engine it has

These cars are built in Uzbekistan and mostly have one of two engines. The 1.6 F16D3 with a timing belt was fitted to the Lacetti and to the Nexia up to 2016. The 1.5 B15D2 with a timing chain is in the Cobalt, the Gentra and the Nexia from 2016 (the Ravon R3, R4 and Gentra are the same cars). The Nexia up to 2016 also had an 8-valve 1.5. Check the engine in the documents or on the engine itself: their weak points differ.

Engine: what to check

• 1.6 F16D3 (timing belt): ask when the belt was replaced and for proof. Without it, budget for a belt, idlers and water pump. Look for oil leaking from under the valve cover.
• 1.5 B15D2 (timing chain): on a cold start there must be no rattle or clatter from the front of the engine, the sound of a stretched chain. Oil most often seeps from the valve cover and the front crankshaft seal, usually because the crankcase ventilation is clogged.
• Cobalt from 2025: the updated engine has variable timing on both camshafts and needs oil of the right specification. Ask what oil the car was serviced with.
• Cold start: see Cold start: what to listen and look for.

Gas equipment

Many of these cars run on methane or propane. The cylinder must be firmly fixed and free of rust, its inspection date not passed, the equipment entered in the tech passport, and there must be no smell of gas under the hood or in the cabin. The engine must run smoothly on both gas and petrol.

Body, suspension and cabin

Check the sills, the bottoms of the doors, the arches and the underbody for rust: the Gentra’s corrosion protection is considered weak. The suspension wears quickly on dusty, broken roads: listen for knocks over bumps on the test drive. Check the paint and the gaps with the paint and accident guide.