Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructions
on getting your car towed.
Compact Spare Tire....................... 270
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 271
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 276 Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 276
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 277
Jump Starting................................. 278
If Your Engine Overheats............. 280
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 282
Charging System Indicator........... 283
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 284
Brake System Indicator................ 285
Closing the Moonroof................... 286
Fuses............................................... 287
Checking and Replacing........... 288
Emergency Towing....................... 292
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jum p Startin g on page 278.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See
Emergenc y Towin g on page 292.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 234). You can
then try jump starting the car froma booster battery (see page 278 ).
Th e Starte r
Operate
s Normall y
In this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Startin g th e
Engin e on page 179 . Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you werenot reminded to fill the tank. There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page 287).
If you find nothing wrong, you will need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 292.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Fuse
s
All the electrical circuits in your car have fuses to protect them from ashort circuit or overload. These
fuses are located in two fuse boxes.
The interior fuse box is underneaththe dashboard on the driver's side.
To open it, turn the knob as shown. The under-hood fuse box is located
in the engine compartment next to
the battery. To open it, push the tab
as shown.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
INTERIO
R
KNOB
UNDER-HOO
D
TAB
Fuse
s
Checkin g an d Replacin g Fuse s
If something electrical in your car stops working, the first thing you
should check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages 290 and 291, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses
control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is
not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component's
operation.
1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the
cover from the fuse
box.
FUS
E
3.
Check each
of the large fuses in
the under-hoo
d fuse box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw- driver. 4. Check the
smaller fuses in the
under-hood fuse box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each fuse with the fuse
puller provided in the door of
the
interior fuse box.
Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d
BLOW
N
FUS
E
PULLE R
Fuse
s
5. Look for a burned wire inside the fuse. If it is burned, replace it withone of the spare fuses of the same
rating or lower. If you cannot drive the car without
fixing the problem, and you do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse of the
same rating or a lower rating from
one of the other circuits. Make sure
you can do without that circuit temporarily (such as the cigarette
lighter or radio).
If you replace the blown fuse with aspare fuse that has a lowe r rating, it
might blo
w out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
fuse with one of the correct rating as soon as you can.
Replacing a fuse with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment fuse with the proper rating for the circuit, install one with a lower rating.
6. If the replacement fuse of the same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical proble
m in your car.
Leave the
blown fuse in that
circuit and have your car checked
b
y a
qualified mechanic.
If th
e radio fuse is removed, the
audio system will disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio you
will see "Code" i
n the frequency
display. Us
e the Preset buttons to
enter the five-digit code (see page
162).
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
BLOW
N
CONTINUED
NOTIC
E
Inde
x
Differential Oil........................... 227
Drive Belts.................................. 240
Engine Coolant........................... 170
Engine Oil................................... 169
Fuses........................................... 288 Power Steering Fluid................. 228
Checklist, Before Driving............. 178
Childproof Door Locks................... 85
Cigarette Lighter........................... 115
Cleaner, Air.................................... 229
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..................... 263
Carpeting.................................... 264
Exterior....................................... 262
Fabric.......................................... 264
Interior........................................ 264
Leather........................................ 264
Seat Belts.................................... 264
Vinyl............................................ 264
Windows..................................... 265
Wood Trim................................. 265
Climate Control System................ 120
Clock, Setting the.......................... 108
Code, Audio System...................... 162
CO in the Exhaust......................... 305
Coin Box......................................... 112 Cold Weather, Starting in............. 179
Compact Spare............................... 270
Console Compartment.................. 112
Consumer Information*................ 310
Controls, Instruments and.............. 51
Coolant
Adding......................................... 219
Checking..................................... 170
Proper Solution.......................... 219
Replacing.................................... 221
Temperature Gauge.................... 60
Corrosion Protection..................... 266
Courtesy Lights............................. 118 Crankcase Emissions Control System......................................... 305
Cruise Control Operation............... 73
Customer Relations Office........... 310
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard.................................... 2, 52
Daytime Running Lights................. 65
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 278
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 313
Defogger, Rear Window................. 71
Defrosting the Windows....... 126, 131
DEXRON
®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 226
Differential Oil ............................... 227
Dimensions..................................... 298
Dimming the Headlights................ 63
Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 226
Engine Oil................................... 169
Directional Signals........................... 66
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 292
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 185
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 218
Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 81
Lockout Prevention..................... 82
Monitor Light............................... 57
Power Door Locks....................... 81
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 301
Drive Belts...................................... 240
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
CONTINUED
Inde
x
Driving............................................ 177
Economy..................................... 171
In Bad Weather.......................... 192
In Foreign Countries................. 304
Driving Position Memory
System......................................... 100
Economy, Fuel............................... 171
Emergencies on the Road............. 269
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 278
Brake System Indicator............ 285
Changing a Flat Tire................. 271
Charging System Indicator...... 283
Checking the Fuses................... 288
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 282
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 284
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 286
Overheated Engine................... 280
Emergency Brake.......................... 108
Emergency Flashers....................... 70
Emergency Towing....................... 292
Emissions Controls........................ 305
Engine
Belts............................................. 240
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 60
Malfunction IndicatorLamp................................. 55, 284
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 54, 282
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 215
Overheating................................ 280
Specifications............................. 299
Speed Limiter............................. 182
Engine Speed Limiter.................... 182
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 303
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 305
Exhaust Fumes................................ 49
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
System......................................... 306
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 18
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 262
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 264
Fan, Interior........................... 124, 129
Features, Comfort and
Convenience............................... 119
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 167
Filters
Air Cleaner................................. 229
Air Conditioning........................ 240
Oil................................................ 217
First Gear, Shifting........................ 182
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 271
Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 226
Brake........................................... 227
Differential................................. 227
Power Steering........................... 228
Windshield Washer................... 225
FM Stereo Radio
Reception............................ 135, 145
Fog Lights......................................... 67
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 304
Four-way Flashers........................... 70
Front Airbags............................... 9, 43
Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker................. 292
Fuel.................................................. 166
Fill Door and Cap....................... 167
Gauge............................................ 60
Octane Requirement................. 166
Oxygenated................................ 303
Inde
x
Reserve Indicator......................... 57
Tank, Filling the......................... 167
Fuel Mileage, Improving............... 171
Fuses, Checking the...................... 288
Gasohol........................................... 303
Gasoline.......................................... 166
Fuel Reserv
e Indicator................ 57
Gauge............................................
60
Octane Requirement................
. 166
Tank, Fillin
g the......................... 167
Gas Statio
n Procedures................. 167
Gauges..............................................
58
Engine Coolan
t Temperature .... 60
Fuel................................................
60
Maintenance Require
d
Indicator.................................... 61
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) ........................................ 195
Gearshift Lever Positions .............180
Glass Cleaning............................... 265
Glove Box......................................... 87
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) ........................................ 195
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 250
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 70
Headlights
Automatic Lighting..................... 64
Daytime Running Lights............. 65
High Beam Indicator................... 57
High Beams, Turning on............ 63
Lights On Indicator..................... 55
Low Beams, Turning on............. 63
Reminder Chime.......................... 63
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 250
Turning on.................................... 63
Head Restraints............................... 95
Heating and Cooling...................... 120
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 179
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 63
High-mount Brake Light............... 255
HomeLink Universal
Transmitter.................................. 88
Hood Latch..................................... 229
Hood, Opening the ........................ 168
Horn................................................... 62
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 219
Hydroplaning.................................. 193 Identification Number, Vehicle.... 296
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 292
Ignition
Keys............................................... 77
Switch............................................ 80
Timing Control System............. 306
Immobilizer System......................... 78
Important Safety Precautions .......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 53
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 241
Inside Mirror.................................... 98
Inspection, Tire.............................. 243
Instrument Panel............................. 53
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 66
Interior Cleaning............................ 264
Introduction......................................... i
CONTINUED