If the Engine Does Not Start

Your actions when determining the cause of the engine not starting depend on whether you hear the starter operate when turning the ignition key to the START (III) position:

• You hear little or no starter operation. This means either the starter does not operate at all, or the crankshaft is being turned by the starter very slowly.

• You hear the starter operating normally, or even at a higher speed than usual, but the engine does not start.

The starter does not operate or turns the crankshaft very slowly. When the ignition key is turned to the START (III) position, you will not hear the normal sound of the starter operating. You may hear one or several clicks, or hear nothing at all. Do the following:

• Check the position of the automatic transmission shift lever. For the starter to operate, the automatic transmission selector lever must be in the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position.

• Turn the ignition key to the ON (II) position. Switch on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlights are dim or do not come on at all, the battery is discharged. In this case, refer to “Jump Starting the Engine” on page 536.

• Turn the ignition key to the START (III) position (engine start). If the headlight brightness is normal, check the fuses for proper operation.

If the fuses are good, there may be a fault in the ignition switch or starter circuits. Correcting these faults requires the assistance of a qualified technician.

Refer to “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” on page 562.

If the headlights noticeably dim or go out completely when the starter is engaged, the most likely cause of the engine not starting is a discharged battery or poor contact in the electrical connections due to corroded terminals. Check the condition of the battery, its terminals and the electrical cable terminals. If the battery is heavily discharged, try to start the engine from another vehicle's battery.

Starter operates normally

In this case, when the ignition key is turned to the START (III) position, you hear the normal sound of the starter operating (the starter may even sound like it is spinning faster than usual), but the engine does not start.

• Make sure you are using the correct engine starting procedure. See

section "Starting the Engine" on page 374 for vehicles with a gasoline engine and page 375 for vehicles with a diesel engine. • To start the engine, only a properly coded ignition key must be used. If you use an ignition key with an incorrect code, the immobilizer system indicator on the instrument panel will flash rapidly.

• Check that there is fuel in the fuel tank. Check the fuel level gauge reading (the low fuel warning light may be faulty).

• A malfunction of the electrical system may also be the cause, for example, no power to the electric fuel pump. Check all fuses.

• Check the condition of the fuel cut-off valve.

If the fuel supply has been cut off, restore the valve to its normal state before starting the engine, following the procedure on page 361.

For diesel engine vehicles only

• If the fuel tank runs dry, it may be necessary to perform the fuel system priming procedure before starting the engine.

• If the vehicle has been stored for a long time, air may have entered the fuel system (see "Priming the Fuel System" on page 501).

• After the vehicle has been parked for a long time or at high ambient temperature, water may accumulate in the fuel system, which may prevent the engine from starting. In this case, drain the water from the fuel filter.

For all vehicle versions: If the above checks do not resolve the problem, you will need the assistance of a qualified specialist.

Refer to “Towing a Disabled Vehicle” on page 562.