1995 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 145

Changing a Flat Tire, If Your Engine Won't Start 19. Store the wheel cover or center cap in the trunk. Make sure it does not get scratched or damaged. Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very Slowly When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the normal noise of the engine trying to start. You may hear a clicking sound or series of clicks or nothing at all. Check these things: Check the transmission interlock. If you have a 5-speed, the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the starter will not operate. With an automatic transmission, it must be in Park or Neutral. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II). Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlights are very dim or don't light at all, the battery is discharged. If Your Engine Won't Start Diagnosing why your engine won't start falls into two areas, depending on what you hear when you turn the key to START (III): You hear nothing or almost nothing. The engine's starter motor does not operate at all or operates very slowly. You can hear the starter motor operating normally, but the engine does not start up and run. See Jump Starting on page 150. Turn the ignition switch to START (III). 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 Towing on page 162.) 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 120). You can then try jump starting the car from a booster battery (see page 150). Taking Care of the Unexpected