Sometimes your Acura may require professional attention between services. If you spot potential trouble, take your Acura to the dealership to be diagnosed by a factory-trained Acura technician.

If there's a problem, you'll usually see, hear, or feel it. Here are some tips on identifying potential symptoms.

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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