2008 Honda Element Owner's Manual - Page 233

Main Menu Table Of Contents If the Engine Won't Start 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 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, or the starter motor sounds like it is spinning faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very Slowly 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. If you have a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be pushed all the way to the floor or the starter will not operate. With an automatic transmission, the shift lever must be in Park or neutral. 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 Jump Starting on page 231 ). 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 Emergency Towing on page 243 . 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 218 ). You can then try jump starting the vehicle from a booster battery (see page 231 ). Taking Care of the Unexpected CONTINUED 229 2008 Element