2008 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 274

Main Menu Table Of Contents Changing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won't Start 18.Store the jack and tools in the tool case. Place the tool case in the center of the flat tire. If the Engine Won't Start 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. Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very Slowly 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 floor 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 Jump Starting on page 273 . CONTINUED 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. 19.Store the wheel cover or center cap in the trunk. Make sure it does not get scratched or damaged. 20.Lower the trunk floor, and close the trunk lid. 21.On U.S. models Your vehicle's original tire has a tire pressure monitoring system sensor. To replace a tire, refer to Changing a Tire with TPMS (see page 214 ). Taking Care of the Unexpected 271 2008 Civic Sedan