Acura 2008 RDX - Owner's Manual - Manual (Page 379)

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:
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.
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 connections
(see page
). You can then try
jump starting the vehicle from a
booster battery (see page
).
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.
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.
Check these things:
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 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 mechanic to
determine the problem (see
on page ).
377
391
366
377
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
Emergency Towing
If the Engine Won’t Start
T
a
k
ing
Ca
re
of
th
e
U
ne
x
p
e
c
te
d
375
2008 RDX
Table Of Contents Main Menu