2009 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN jump start

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 .336
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .337
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .342
................................
Jump Starting .344
..............
If the Engine Overheats .347
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .349
..........
Charging System Indicator .349
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .350
...............
Brake System Indicator .351
..............................................
Fuses .352
..............................
Fuse Locations .356
......................
Emergency Towing .358
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
335
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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: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
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 f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic 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 .
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 f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. See on page .344
358
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
Emergency T owing
If theEngineWon’tStart
342
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If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. Seeon 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 ).
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.
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is
discharged 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
).
79
266 352
344 332
358Emergency
Towing
Starting the
Engine
T he Starter Operates Normally
If theEngineWon’tStart
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
343
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2009 Civic Sedan

Although this seems like a simple
procedure, you should take several
precautions.
You cannot start your vehicle with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.
To jump start your vehicle:
The numbers in the illustrations
show you the order to connect the
jumper cables.
Turn of f all the electrical
accessories: heater, A/C, audio
system, lights, etc. Put the
transmission in neutral (manual)
or Park (automatic), and set the
parking brake.
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.
1.
2.
Jump Starting
344
Except Si
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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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.
CONT INUED
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
345
Si Except Si Si
BOOSTER BATTERY
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2009 Civic Sedan

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.
7.
Jump Starting
346
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications .257
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) .80
.............
Accessory Power Socket .108
..................
Active Head Restraints .96
....................
Additives, Engine Oil .301
...............................
Airbag (SRS) .9,21
...
Airbags, Additional Information .21
...
Additional Safety Precautions .32
..........
AdvancedAirbagSystem .26
.............................
Airbag Service .31
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works .30
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works .30
..
How the SRS Indicator Works .29
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work .24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work .27
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work .29
........................
SRS Components .21
..............
Air Conditioning System .110
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires .325 ......................................
Antif reeze .304
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator .60,276
...................................
Operation .276
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System .205
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock .80
............................................
Armrest .97
................................
Audio System .114
.....
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .83
.........................
Auto Door Locking .83
.....................
Auto Door Unlocking .85
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners .19
.............
Automatic Speed Control .208
..............
Automatic Transmission .270
..........................
Capacity, Fluid .365
...............
Checking Fluid Level .308
.......................................
Shif ting .270
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators .270
................
Shif t Lever Positions .271
....................
Shif t Lock Release .273
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack .204 Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator .65,349
............................
Jump Starting .344
..............................
Maintenance .332
............................
Specif ications .366
..............................
Bef ore Driving .247
....................................
Belts,Seat.8,18
.........................
Beverage Holders .108
.......
Bluetooth
HandsFreeLink.211
Brakes ...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) .276
.............
Break-in, New Linings .248
....................
Bulb Replacement .315
...........................................
Fluid .310
.................
Pad Wear Indicators .275
.......................................
Parking .105
.................
System Indicator .59,351
.............................
Braking System .275
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle .248
..
Brightness Control, Instruments .75
Index
A B
INDEX
I
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Î
CONT INUED
Doors.
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .83
.....................
Auto Door Locking .83
.................
Auto Door Unlocking .85
..............
Locking and Unlocking .81
......................
Power Door Locks .82
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .367
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .267
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .263
....................................
Economy .254
..................................
Guidelines .264
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .320
...................................
Fan, Interior .110 .........................................
Features .109
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .249
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .320
...............................................
Oil .302
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level .309
................................
Shif ting the .267
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .337
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .308
..........................................
Brake .310
.........................................
Clutch .311
...................................
Locations .298
..............
Manual Transmission .309
..........................
Power Steering .311
..................
Windshield Washer .307
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .198
........................................
Fog Lights .74
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .97
..........................
Four-way Flashers .76
..............................
Front Airbags .9,24
..............................
Economy, Fuel .254
............
Emergencies on the Road .335
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .344
...........
Brake System Indicator .351
................
Changing a Flat Tire .337
.....
Charging System Indicator .349
..................
Checking the Fuses .352
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .349
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .350 ..................
Overheated Engine .347
.........................
Emergency Brake .105
......................
Emergency Flashers .76
......................
Emergency Towing .358
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .89
.......................
Emissions Controls .372
........................
Emissions Testing .375
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .70
......
Engine Speed Limiter .269,272
Malf unction Indicator
......................................
Lamp .350
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .65,349
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .300
...............................
Overheating .347
............................
Specif ications .364
.......................................
Starting .266
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .249
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .372
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .51
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
Index
F
E
INDEX
III
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