Page 265 of 319

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 .264
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .265
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .270
................................
Jump Starting .272
..............
If the Engine Overheats .274
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .276
..........
Charging System Indicator .276
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .277
...............
Brake System Indicator .278
..................
Closing the Moonroof .279
..............................................
Fuses .280
..............................
Fuse Locations .283
......................
Emergency Towing .285
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
263
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Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or replaced,
and put it back on your vehicle as
soon as you can. Follow
these precautions:
Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel. Do not use the compact spare tire
if you are towing a trailer. Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indica tor bars. The
replacement should be the same size
and design tire, mounted on the
same wheel. The spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.
Check
the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to: Never
exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces. Use greater caution while
driving.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare tire.
Turn of f the VSA system (see
pages and ). Driving with
thecompactsparetiremay
activate the VSA. 211 212
On all V6 models
Compact Spare Tire
264
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
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CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area that is
far away from the traffic lanes.If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
the trailer. Park the vehicle on f irm, level and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (A/T) or
Reverse (M/T). Apply the parking
brake.Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
The tools are in the trunk. Open
the trunk and raise the trunk f loor
by lif ting up on the back edge.
Take the tool kit out of the trunk.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
5. 4. 3. 2.
1.
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
265
TRUNK FLOOR
SPARE TIRE JACK
TOOL KIT
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
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Page 268 of 319
The jack is behind a cover in the
right f ender. Remove the cover by
turning the handle counterclock-
wise, then pulling on the cover.Turn the jack’s end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack.
Loosen each wheel nut 1/2 turn
with the wheel nut wrench.
6.
7.8.
Changing a Flat Tire
266
JACK WHEEL NUT
WHEEL NUT WRENCH
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Page 269 of 319
CONT INUED
Place the jack under the jacking
point nearest the tire you need to
change. Turn the end bracket
clockwise until the top of the jack
contacts the jacking point. Make
sure the jacking point tab is
restinginthejacknotch.Remove the wheel nuts, then
remove the f lat tire. Handle the
wheel nuts caref ully; they may be
hot from driving. Place the flat tire
on the ground with the outside
surface facing up.Do not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover of f with a screwdriver or
other tool. The wheel cover cannot
be removed without f irst removing
the wheel nuts.
Use the extension and the wheel
nut wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the f lat tire is of f the
ground.
9. 10.
11.On Canadian 4-cylinder LX model
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
267
JACKING POINT WHEEL COVER
WHEEL NUTS
WHEEL NUT WRENCH EXTENSION
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Page 270 of 319
Lower the vehicle to the ground,
and remove the jack.
Bef ore mounting the spare tire,
wipeanydirtoff themounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully;itmaybehotfrom
driving. Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on f inger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel nut wrench
until the wheel is f irmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them f ully.
13. 14.
12.
Changing a Flat Tire
268
BRAKE HUB
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CONT INUED
Place the flat tire face down in the
spare tire well.
Remove the spacer cone f rom the
wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
Securetheflattirebyscrewing
the wing bolt back into its hole.
Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
f acility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
Remove the center cap before
storing the f lat tire in the trunk
well.
15. 16. 17.
18.
19.All models except Canadian 4-cylinder LX
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
269
WING BOLT
SPACER CONEFor
spare
tire
For
normal
tire
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)
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Store the jack in its holder. Turn
the jack’s end bracket to lock it in
place. Replace the cover. Store the
tools.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
Lower the trunk floor, then close
the trunk lid. Di
agnosing why the engine won’t
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position: Wh
en you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, 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 these things:
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
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. 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 .
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.
20.
21. 22.
272
If the Engine Won’t Start
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
Changing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won’t Start
270
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.
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