Page 345 of 396

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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Page 346 of 396

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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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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Page 348 of 396
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
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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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Page 352 of 396

Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page ). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
Start the engine, and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn of f the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving
(see on page).
Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
This indicator should never come on
when the engine is running. If it
starts flashing or stays on, the oil
pressure has dropped very low or
lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action. If the charging system indicator
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, the battery is not being
charged.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technical
assistance.
1.
2.
3.
4.
251
300
358 Emergency T owing
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
349
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.
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Page 353 of 396

If the indicator comes on repeatedly,
even though it may turn of f as you
continue driving, have your vehicle
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible.
Your vehicle has certain ‘‘readiness
codes’’ that are part of the on-board
diagnostics f or the emissions
systems. In some states, part of the
emissions testing is to make sure
these codes are set. If they are not
set, the test cannot be completed.
If this indicator comes on
while driving, it means one
of the engine’s emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may f eel no dif f erence in
your vehicle’s perf ormance, it can
reduce your f uel economy and cause
increased emissions. Continued
operation may cause serious damage. If your vehicle’s battery has been
disconnected or gone dead, these
codes are erased. It can take several
days of driving under various
conditions to set the codes again.
If you have recently ref ueled your
vehicle, the indicator coming on
could be due to a loose or missing
f uel f ill cap. You will also see a
‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’ message on
the inf ormation display. Tighten the
cap until it clicks at least once.
Tightening the cap will not turn the
indicator of f immediately; it can take
several days of normal driving. To check if they are set, turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, without starting the engine.
The malf unction indicator lamp will
come on f or 20 seconds. If it then
goes of f , the readiness codes are set.
If it blinks f ive times, the readiness
codes are not set. If possible, do not
take your vehicle f or an emissions
test until the readiness codes are set.
Refer to for
more information (see page ).
375
Malf unction Indicator L amp
Readiness Codes
Emissions T esting
350
If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your vehicle’s emissions
controls and engine. Those repairs may
not be covered by your vehicle’s
warranties.
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Page 369 of 396

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µ
µ
µ
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Specif ications
366
Fuses
Alignment
Battery
Tires
P195/65R15 89H
Interior
Under-hood
Toe-in
Camber
Caster 7°24’ 0°45’0°
0.08 in (2.0 mm)
0.00 in (0.0 mm)
Capacity 12 V
12 V
12 V36 AH/5 HR
38 AH/5 HR
45 AH/20 HR
47 AH/20 HR
12 V
12 V 38 AH/5 HR
47 AH/20 HR
12 V T135/80R16 101MT125/70D15 95M
215/45ZR17 91W P215/45R17 87V
P205/55R16 89H P195/65R15 89S
See page357or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the steering
column.
See page356or the fuse box
cover. Size
Pressure 30 psi (210 kPa , 2.1 kgf/cm)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front Front/Rear
Spare
Si
Optional for Si (summer tires)
U.S.
Vehicles
Canada
Vehicles
Front/Rear
Spare
Si (all season tires)
Canadian DX-G with manual transmission
DX, Canadian DX-G with automatic transmission
EX-L, Si
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
Except EX-L, Si
EX-L, U.S. LX, LX-S, EX, Canadian Sport
3
1
2
4
5
7
7
3
6
1, 2
4, 6
8
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