If Your Engine Won't Start
Nothing Happens or the
Starter Motor Operates
Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition
switch to START (III), 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 inter-
lock. If you have a 5-speed,
the clutch pedal must be
pushed all the way to the floor
or the starter will not operate.
With an automatic transmis-
sion, it must be in Park or
Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to
ON (II). Turn on the
headlights and check their
brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don't light at
all, the battery is discharged.
See
Jump Starting
on
page
180
.
Turn the ignition switch to
START (III). If the headlights do
not dim, check the condition of
the fuses. If the fuses are OK,
there is probably something
wrong with the electrical circuit
for the ignition switch or
starter motor. You will need a
qualified technician to deter-
mine the problem. See
Towing
on page
193
.
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
146
). You
can then try jump starting the car
from a booster battery (see
page
180
).
Taking Care of the Unexpected
