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 .240
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .241
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start . 246
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly .246
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .247
................................
Jump Starting .248
..............
If the Engine Overheats . 251
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 253
..........
Charging System Indicator . 253
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 254
.......................
Readiness Codes .254
...............
Brake System Indicator . 255
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 256
..............................................
Fuses .257
..............................
Fuse Locations .260
......................
Emergency Towing .262
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
239
Diagnosing 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:
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. 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, a 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 floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
au tomatic transmission, it must be
in Park or neutral.
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 .248
If theEngineWon’tStart
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
246
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even faster
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? Refer 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 fuel? Check the fuel
gauge; the low fuel indicator may
not be working.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses
(see page ).
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
ch arged or the connections are
co rroded. Check the condition of
the battery connections (see page
). You can then try jump
starting the vehicle from a booster
battery (see page ).
Turn
the ignition switch to the
START (III) position. If the
headlights do not dim, check the
condition of the fuses. If the fuses
areOK,thereisprobably
something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified mechanic to
determine the problem (see
on page ). Ifyoufindnothingwrong,youwill
need
a qualified mechanic to find the
problem. See
on page .
169
75 257
262
235 248 262
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
Emergency T owing Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
247
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.
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.
1.
2.
Jump Starting
248
BOOSTER
BATTERY
4-cylinder models
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.
Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
battery. Connect the other end to
the positive ( ) terminal on the
booster battery.
3.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
249
V6 models
4-cylinder models
V6 models
BOOSTER
BATTERY
´
´
If the booster battery is in another
vehicle, have an assistant start
that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.
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. 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
250
V6 models
4-cylinder models
µ
CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories .162
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) .76
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 99
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 205
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 11, 23
..........
Airbag System Components . 23
............................
Air Conditioning .102
.........................................
Usage .104
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .228
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) ...............................
Indicator . 59, 180
...................................
Operation .180
.
Anti-thef t Steering Column Lock . 76
........
Audio System . 114, 122, 131, 135
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 145
..............
Automatic Transmission . 173
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .268
.......................................
Shif ting .173
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 173
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 173
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 176Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 58, 253
............................
Jump Starting .248
..............................
Maintenance .235
............................
Specif ications .269
..............................
Bef ore Driving .153
..................................
Belts, Seat . 10, 20
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 180
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 154
...........................................
Fluid .215
.........................................
Parking .95
.................
System Indicator . 59, 255
........................
Wear Indicators .179
.............................
Braking System .179
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 154
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights .69
Bulb Replacement ..........................
Back-up Lights .223
................
Front Parking Lights . 221
.................................
Headlights .218
............................
Specif ications .269 ............
Turn Signal Lights . 221, 222
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen .218
............................
Capacities Chart .268
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 51
.............................
Carrying Cargo .164
.............
CAUTION, Explanation of . iii
..........................
CD Changer . 122, 128
.......................................
CD Player .122
..........................
CD Pocket, Center .98
........................
Certif ication Label .266
............................................
Chains .234
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .241
Changing Oil ........................................
How to .206
......................................
When to .193
...
Charging System Indicator . 58, 253
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 168
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 78
.......................................
Child Seats .34
...........
Lower Anchorage Points . 44
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 48
Index
AB
C
INDEX
I
..............
Climate Control Sensors . 113
.........................
Clock, Setting the .143
...................................
Clutch Fluid .215
..................
CO in the Exhaust . 53, 274
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 169
..............................
Compact Spare .240
...................
Console Compartment . 99
.................
Consumer Inf ormation . 280
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 55
Coolant ........................................
Adding .208
....................................
Checking .160
.........................
Proper Solution .208
...................
Temperature Gauge . 65
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System .274
............
Cruise Control Operation . 145
.............
Customer Service Of f ice . 280
...............
DANGER, Explanation of . iii
Dashboard .................................... , 56
..........
Daytime Running Lights . 62, 70
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 282
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 72....................................
Dimensions .268
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 69
Dipstick .
Automatic Transmission . 211, 212
..................................
Engine Oil .159
..........................
Directional Signals .69
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 179
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil .207
Doors ..............
Locking and Unlocking . 77
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 271
Downshif ting, Manual .............................
Transmission .170
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 7
...........................................
Driving .167
....................................
Economy .161
..........
Dual Temperature Control . 111
..............................
Economy, Fuel .161
............
Emergencies on the Road . 239
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 248
...........
Brake System Indicator . 255
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 241
.....
Charging System Indicator . 253..................
Checking the Fuses . 257
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 253
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 254
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 256
..................
Overheated Engine . 251
...........................
Emergency Brake .95
......................
Emergency Flashers .71
......................
Emergency Towing .262
.......................
Emissions Controls .274
Engine ....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 65
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 254
.......................
Oil Lif e Indicator .193
..............
Oil Pressure Indicator . 253
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 204
...............................
Overheating .251
............................
Specif ications .270
....................
Speed Limiter . 172, 175
.......................................
Starting .169
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 172, 175
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 274
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .53
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .18
Index
D E
II
iv