Vehicle Starting Tips
Over many years of driving, there may be a few occasions when your vehicle won't start. Here are some common situations and what you can do about them.
Situation One: You turn the key and nothing happens (or the starter motor cranks very slowly).
When you turn the ignition switch to START and don't hear anything, or hear only some clicking sounds, do the following:
If you have a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the starter will not operate. An automatic transmission must be in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (the II position on the ignition switch). Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If they are very dim or don't light at all, the battery is discharged. A jumpstart should restart the vehicle. See your Owner's Manual for the correct jumpstarting procedure.
Turn the ignition switch to START (position III). If the headlights do not dim, check the condition of the fuses using your Owner's Manual as a guide. If the fuses are all right, there is probably something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignition switch or starter motor. You will need a qualified technician to determine the problem. Contact your dealer for service.
If headlights dim or go out when you try to start the engine, either the battery is discharged or the connections are loose and/or corroded. Check the condition of the battery and terminal connections, using your Owner's Manual as a guide. You can then try jumpstarting the vehicle from a booster battery by following the procedure in your Owner's Manual.
Situation Two: You turn the key and the starter cranks normally, but the engine doesn't turn over.
You may be out of fuel. Turn the ignition switch to ON for a minute and watch the fuel gauge to check.
If you find nothing wrong, a qualified technician can help you discover and fix the problem. Call your Acura dealer, or have your vehicle towed to the nearest Acura Service Center.
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Handling or Drivability Problems
Poor handling generally means your Acura needs service. Often, the culprit is misalignment. This can be caused by normal wear and tear on steering and suspension or by hitting curbs or potholes. Take your Acura to the dealership and describe the exact problem to your Service Advisor.
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Overheated Engine
If the temperature gauge registers "hot" while you're driving, your engine is overheating. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off. Turn on the heater to get more engine coolant flowing and continue driving only if the temperature goes down.
If it continues to register "hot", pull over, turn off the engine, and look for the following:
A leak in heater or radiator hose. For a small leak, let the engine cool. Put on eye protection, and with gloves or a cloth carefully remove the radiator cap. With the engine running, add coolant to the radiator. Replace the cap but leave it one notch looser. Drive slowly to the nearest service station.
No sign of a leak? Let the engine cool. When the radiator cap cools, put on eye protection and gloves and carefully remove the cap. Check the coolant level in the radiator reserve tank and add more if necessary. Replace the cap. Drive slowly to an Acura dealer if the temperature gauge continues to register "hot". Stop and cool again if necessary until you reach your destination.
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Exhaust Smoke
Freshly started vehicles may emit some white smoke as condensed water vapor in the exhaust system is burned off. If smoke persists after your Acura warms up, it could indicate a problem.
- White indicates an internal coolant leak.
- Blue indicates burning oil.
- Black can indicate either an ignition or fuel system problem.
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Suspicious Sounds
Peculiar noises are often an early warning sign. Listen to them closely - you may avoid costly repairs. Here are some common sounds and their meanings:
- Click (a rhythmic tapping, similar to the click of a retractable ballpoint pen)
- Loose hubcap; worn wheel bearing; bent or loose fan blade; low engine oil level.
- Clunk (a dull banging or thump, as if something were being dropped)
- Loose or worn universal joint or rear differential; low transmission fluid.
- Knocking (a pounding or banging, as though two objects hit together)
- Light knocking or "pinging" — fuel octane may be too low. Check your Owner's Manual for recommended octane level. Heavy knocking could indicate a bad connecting rod or worn crankshaft main bearing.
- Screech or squeak (scraping metallic sound, often continuous)
- Worn brake pads or other brake problems.
- Squeal (high-pitched whine, as if something is tearing)
- Underinflated tires, misaligned wheels; loose or worn power steering fan or air conditioning compressor belt.
- Thud (low-pitched metallic thumping)
- Loose exhaust pipe; worn crankshaft bearing.
If you think you have a problem, bring your Acura to your dealer for service. Filling out the Service Visit Preparation Form prior to your service will help to further pinpoint the problem.
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Odd Odors
When you smell an odd odor, take your vehicle to your Acura technician immediately. Here are a few of the more common smells and their causes:
- Burning plastic
Short circuit in the electrical system.
- Burning oil
Leaking oil on hot engine parts; low engine oil level; transmission overheating (low transmission fluid level).
- Burning rubber
Rubber hose touching a hot engine; hot wheel or brake due to locked brake shoe.
- Exhaust odor inside vehicle
Vehicle in front with strong exhaust output; trunk may be open, letting exhaust into passenger compartment; leak in exhaust pipe under passenger compartment. If there is an exhaust leak, keep windows open and turn the fan on high in the fresh air position. These toxic fumes are extremely dangerous.
- Gasoline odor inside vehicle
Leaking or disconnected fuel line; defective evaporation control canister. Keep windows open and turn the fan on high in the fresh air position. Avoid open flames.
- Sulfur smell from exhaust
All gasoline contains trace amounts of sulfur. The exhaust will emit varying degrees of sulfur odor depending on operating temperatures and conditions. It may not be possible to eliminate sulfur odor completely due to operating conditions.
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Driveway Drips
The bad news is that drops or puddles beneath your Acura may signal trouble. The good news is that discovering the likely source is easy. Just spread a large piece of paper underneath your Acura, leave it overnight, and in the morning check out the color of the drops. The color reveals the source of the problem:
- Dark
A dark spot is typically motor oil. It means your engine is leaking oil and needs repair.
- Red
Transmission fluid is red. Red spots may indicate that either front or rear automatic transmission seals need replacing.
- Green
Green or yellow oily fluid is coolant. This leak could be caused by a bad water pump or a leak in either the radiator or a hose.
- Amber
Power steering fluid is amber. An amber stain may indicate a power steering hose or pump leak.
- Clear but oily
An oily liquid with little color but a strong odor could be brake fluid.
- Clear water
Clear water is no need for concern. It is probably normal condensation from your air conditioner.
If you have identified an oil, transmission fluid, power-steering fluid, brake fluid, or coolant leak, bring your Acura to your Acura Dealer for service. Be sure to tell your Service Advisor the color, location, and amount of the leak, and when you noticed it.
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