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 .226
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .227
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .230
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .230
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .231
................................
Jump Starting .232
..............
If the Engine Overheats .234
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .236
..........
Charging System Indicator .237
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .237
.......................
Readiness Codes .238
...............
Brake System Indicator .239
..................
Closing the Moonroof .240
......................
Emergency Towing .241
..............................................
Fuses .243
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
225
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Diagnosing why the engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position:When 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.
Store the center cap in the trunk.
Make sure it does not get
scratched or damaged.
Lower the trunk f loor, then close
the trunk lid. 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. You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
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. Seeon 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.
Check these things:
232
19.
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
230
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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Turn the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the f uses. If the f uses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem (seeon page ).In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)
position, 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 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 ). If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied mechanic to f ind the
problem. See
on page .
241
232
221 165
77 243
241
Emergency T owing T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
231
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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.
Jump Starting
232
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.
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µOnce 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.
Keep 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.
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
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
233
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .156
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .78
...............
Accessory Power Socket .96
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .197
...................................
Airbag (SRS) .11
..........
Airbag System Components .23
............................
Air Conditioning .100
.........................................
Usage .102
...............
Air Intake, IMA Battery .161
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .216
..................
Air Vent, IMA Battery .161
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 55, 175
...................................
Operation .175
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 78
............................................
Armrest .84
................................
Audio System .112
................................
Auto Idle Stop .171
...............
Auto Idle Stop Indicator . 172
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 141
..............
Automatic Transmission . 166
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .252
.......................................
Shif ting .166 .
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 166
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 166
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 169
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 54, 237
............................
Jump Starting .232
..............................
Maintenance .221
............................
Specif ications .253
..............................
Bef ore Driving .149
........................................
Belts, Seat .10
....................................
Booster Seat .46
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 175
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 150
...........................................
Fluid .204
.........................................
Parking .93
.................
System Indicator . 54, 239
........................
Wear Indicators .174
.............................
Braking System .174
........................
Break-in, New Car .150
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 73
........................
Brights, Headlights .71 Bulb Replacement
................
Front Parking Lights . 209
.........................
Headlights . 207, 208
............................
Specif ications .253
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 209
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .206
............................
Capacities Chart .252
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 49
.............................
Carrying Cargo .158
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.......................................
CD Player .119
..........................
Error Message .125
........................
Certif ication Label .250
............................................
Chains .220
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .227
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .198
......................................
When to .187
....................
Charge/Assist Gauge .67
...
Charging System Indicator . 54, 237
..............
Check Fuel Cap Indicator . 61
Index
A
BC
INDEX
I
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