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If the engine won’t start – HONDA 2008 Odyssey User Manual

Page 471

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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 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.

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 technician to
determine the problem. See

on page

.

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

).

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.
The transmission must be in Park
or neutral or the starter will not
operate.

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

.

467

480

450

467

Emergency Towing

Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly

Jump Starting

If the Engine Won’t Start

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