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 .252
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .253
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .257
................................
Jump Starting .259
..............
If the Engine Overheats .261
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .263
..........
Charging System Indicator .263
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .264
...............
Brake System Indicator .265
..............................................
Fuses .266
..............................
Fuse Locations .270
......................
Emergency Towing .272
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
251
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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.
Check these things: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.
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:
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.
Store the jack and tools in the tool
kit case. Place the tool kit case in
the center of the flat tire.
Store the wheel cover or center
cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
Lower the trunk f loor, then close
the trunk lid.
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 .259
18.
19.
20.
CONT INUED
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
If the Engine Won’t Start
Jump Starting
Changing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
257
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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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 .
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 ).
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to
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 the START (III)
position, but the engine does not run.
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 (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 and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
f rom a booster battery (see page ). 272
248
259 75
194 266
272Emergency
Towing
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
258
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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.
You cannot start your vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your vehicle:
Turn of f all the electrical
accessories: heater, A/C, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (M/T) or
Park (A/T), and set the parking
brake. The numbers in the illustrations
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
1.
2.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
259
BOOSTER BATTERY
DX, Canadian DX-G, LX, EX
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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µ
´
´
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.
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.
6.
4.
5.
3.
Jump Starting
260
Si
Si
BOOSTER BATTERY DX, Canadian DX-G, LX, EX
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CONT INUED
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.
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. The pointer of the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
If the vehicle overheats, you
should take immediate action. The
only indication may be the
temperature gauge climbing to or
above the red mark. Or you may
see steam or spray coming f rom
under the hood.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in neutral
(M/T) or Park (A/T), and set the
parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
7.
1.
2.
Jump Starting, If the Engine Overheats
If the Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
261
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to the engine.
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .186
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .76
............
Accessory Power Sockets .104
................
Adding Engine Coolant .224
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .221
.......
Adjusting the Steering Wheel .73
.........
Advice f or Pregnant Women .16
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,21
..............
Air Conditioning System .110
.........................................
Usage .113
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .242
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline .180
......................................
Antif reeze .224
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .59, 204
...................................
Operation .204
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 172
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock .76
................................
Audio System .115
.....
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking . 78
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 19
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 175..............
Automatic Transmission . 198
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .278
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 228
.......................................
Shif ting .198
Shif t Lever Position ...............................
Indicators .198
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 198
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 201
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator .57, 263
............................
Jump Starting .259
..............................
Maintenance .248
............................
Specif ications .279
..............................
Bef ore Driving .179
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,18
.........................
Beverage Holders .103
..................................
Booster Seats .47
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 204
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 180
....................
Bulb Replacement .236
...........................................
Fluid .230 .......................................
Parking .101
..........................
System Design .203
.................
System Indicator . 58,265
........................
Wear Indicators .203
.............................
Braking System .203
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 180
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights .70
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .236
..............................
Brake Lights .236
................
Front Parking Lights . 235
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 235
.................................
Headlights .232
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 237
............................
Specif ications .279
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 235
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .232
............................
Capacities Chart .278
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 50
.............................
Carrying Cargo .188
Index
A
B
C
INDEX
I
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Î
CONT INUED
..............................
Economy, Fuel .185
..................................
Emergencies .251
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .259
...........
Brake System Indicator .265
................
Changing a Flat Tire .253
.....
Charging System Indicator .263
..................
Checking the Fuses .266
.........
Hazard Warning Flashers .72
............................
Jump Starting .259
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .263
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .264 ..................
Overheated Engine .261
.......................................
Towing .272
.........................
Emergency Brake .101
......................
Emergency Flashers .72
......................
Emergency Towing .272
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .89
.......................
Emissions Controls .283
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 286
Engine ............
Adding Engine Coolant . 224
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 66
.........................
If It Won’t Start .257
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .57, 264
.......................
Oil Lif e Indicator .209
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 57,263
.............................
Oil, Synthetic .221
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 220
...............................
Overheating .261
............................
Specif ications .278
....................
Speed Limiter . 197,200
.......................................
Starting .194
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .180
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 283
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .50 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
....................................
Fan Control .111
.........................................
Features .109
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 181
Filters .........................
Dust and Pollen .239
...............................................
Oil .222
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 72
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 253
Fluids ..........
Automatic Transmission . 228
..........................................
Brake .230
.........................................
Clutch .230
..............
Manual Transmission . 229
..........................
Power Steering .231
..................
Windshield Washer . 227
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .167
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .94
..........................
Four-way Flashers .72
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .224
Doors .
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking . 78
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 77
......................
Power Door Locks .78
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 280
Downshif ting, Manual .............................
Transmission .195
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving .191
....................................
Economy .185
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 239
Index
E F
INDEX
III
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