This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation 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 f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .236
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .237
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 241
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .241
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .242
................................
Jump Starting .243
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 245
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 247
..........
Charging System Indicator . 248
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 248
.......................
Readiness Codes .249
...............
Brake System Indicator . 250
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 251
......................
Emergency Towing .252
..............................................
Fuses .254
..........
Checking and Replacing . 254
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
235
Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights, and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or do not come on at
all, the battery is discharged. See on page .
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
Check these things:
Lower the trunk f loor, then close
the trunk lid.
19.
243
CONT INUED
If the Engine Won’t StartNothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
Changing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
241
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereis
probably something wrong with
the electrical circuit f or the
ignition switch or starter motor.
You will need a qualif ied
technician to determine the
problem (see
on page ).In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page .
Are you using a properly coded
key? An improperly coded key will
cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the instrument panel
to blink rapidly (see page ). Do you have f uel? Check the f uel
gauge; the low f uel indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See on page .
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 connections (see page
). You can then try jump
starting the vehicle from a booster
battery (see page ). 252
243
232 167
72 254
252
If theEngineWon’tStart
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
Emergency
Towing
242
´´
Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions. Open the hood, and check the
physical condition of the battery.
In very cold weather, check the
condition of the electrolyte. If it
seems slushy or f rozen, do not try
jump starting until it thaws.
To jump start your vehicle:
You cannot start your vehicle by
pushing or pulling it. The numbers in the illustration show
the order to connect the jumper
cable.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake. Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, climate
control, stereo system, lights, etc. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
243
BOOSTER
BATTERY
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone
nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
µKeep the ends of the jumper
cables away from each other and
any metal on the vehicle until
everything is disconnected.
Otherwise, you may cause an
electrical short. Once your vehicle is running,
disconnect the negative cable f rom
your vehicle, then f rom the
booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable f rom your vehicle,
then from the booster battery.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
Start the vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
that the jumper cables have good
metal-to-metal contact.
Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative ( ) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect the
other end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of
the engine. 7.
6. 5.
4.
Jump Starting
244
CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .160
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .73
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 97
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 202
...................................
Airbag (SRS) .11
..........
Airbag System Components . 23
............................
Air Conditioning .103
.........................................
Usage .105
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .227
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator .55, 179
...................................
Operation .179
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 73
........
Audio System . 112,120,128,133
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 143
..............
Automatic Transmission . 170
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .262
....
Sequential SportShif t Mode . 172
.......................................
Shif ting .170
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 170
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 170
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 175Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .54, 248
............................
Jump Starting .243
..............................
Maintenance .232
............................
Specif ications .263
..............................
Bef ore Driving .151
........................................
Belts, Seat .10
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 179
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 152
....................
Bulb Replacement .219
...........................................
Fluid .212
.........................................
Parking .93
.........................
System Indicator .54
........................
Wear Indicators .178
.............................
Braking System .178
........................
Break-in, New Car .152
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 68
........................
Brights, Headlights .66
Bulb Replacement ..............................
Brake Lights .219
................
Front Parking Lights . 217
.................................
Headlights .215 .........
High-mount Brake Light . 221
............................
Specif ications .263
............
Turn Signal Lights . 217,219
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .215
............................
Capacities Chart .262
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 48
.............................
Carrying Cargo .162
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer .122
.......................................
CD Player .120
..........................
CD Pocket, Center .96
........................
Certif ication Label .260
............................................
Chains .231
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .237
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .204
.............................
When to .193, 195
...
Charging System Indicator . 54,248
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 166
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 76
Index
AB
C
INDEX
I
.......................................
Child Seats .30
...........
Lower Anchorage Points . 39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
..............
Climate Control Sensors . 111
.........................
Clock, Setting the .141
...................................
Clutch Fluid .213
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 167
..............................
Compact Spare .236
...................
Console Compartment . 97
.................
Consumer Inf ormation . 274
Coolant ........................................
Adding .207
....................................
Checking .158
.........................
Proper Solution .207
...................
Temperature Gauge . 61
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .268
............
Cruise Control Operation . 143
.............
Customer Service Of f ice . 277
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard .4, 52
................
Daytime Running Lights . 68
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 276................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 69
....................................
Dimensions .262
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 66
Dipstick ..........
Automatic Transmission . 209
..................................
Engine Oil .157
..........................
Directional Signals .66
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 178
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .205
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 74
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 265
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission .168
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
...........................................
Driving .165
....................................
Economy .159
..........
Dual Temperature Control . 109
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 223
..............................
Economy, Fuel .159
............
Emergencies on the Road . 235
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 243
...........
Brake System Indicator . 250................
Changing a Flat Tire . 237
.....
Charging System Indicator . 248
..................
Checking the Fuses . 254
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 247
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 248
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 251
..................
Overheated Engine . 245
...........................
Emergency Brake .93
......................
Emergency Flashers .69
......................
Emergency Towing .252
.......................
Emissions Controls .268
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 61
Malf unction Indicator ......................................
Lamp .248
..............
Oil Pressure Indicator . 247
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 202
...............................
Overheating .245
............................
Specif ications .262
....................
Speed Limiter . 169,174
.......................................
Starting .167
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 169,174
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 268
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .48
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
Index
DE
II
........................
Immobilizer System .72
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 8
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel . 54
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .35
......................................
Inf ant Seats .35
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 226
...................................
Inside Mirror .87
.............................
Inspection, Tire .228
....................
Installing a Child Seat .39
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 43
.............................
Using LATCH .39
............................
Instrument Panel .53
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 68
........................................
Introduction .i
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 238
.......................................
Jack, Tire .237
................................
Jump Starting .243
..................................................
Keys .71 ..................................
Maintenance .189
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 192
........................................
Record .197
......................
Required Indicator .62
..........................................
Saf ety .190
.............................
Schedule .193-196
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 248
...................
Manual Transmission . 168
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 211
...............................
Meters, Gauges .60
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .88
.................................
Modif ications .161
.........................................
Moonroof .92
......................
Closing Manually .251
.....................................
Operation .92
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 171
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 152
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .169
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 260
.......................
Label, Certif ication .260
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 66
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .20
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .215
.......................................
Indicator .53
.......................................
Parking .218
..................
Turn Signal . 57,217, 219
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 73
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 73
............................
Fuel Fill Door .154
....................................
Glove Box .98
....................
Lockout Prevention . 75
.................................
Power Door .75
...........................................
Trunk .81
........................
Low Coolant Level .158
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 169
...........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 54
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 262
.........................................
Luggage .162
Index
J
K LM
N
IV