Honda Civic Troubleshooting

The Civic is a compact car available as a sedan, coupe or hybrid. Problems with starting the engine are common and can occur for several reasons.

Transmission

  • Make sure the transmission is in park or neutral or that the clutch pedal is pushed all the way to the floor.

Corrosion

  • If you hear clicking noises starting the car, try turning on the headlights with the ignition in the "On" position. If they are dim or do not turn on at all, check for a yellowish or whitish powder on the battery terminals. This indicates corrosion and can be removed with baking soda and water.

Battery Discharged

  • If the battery terminals are not corroded, you battery is discharged and you will need to jump start your car using a booster battery from another car. Check the Civic owner's manual for instructions.

Fuses

  • If the headlights do turn on with the ignition in the "On" position, turn off the car and check the condition of the fuses. The fuses are located underneath the steering column and under the hood on the driver's side. Information on checking for and replacing blown fuses can be found in the Honda Civic manual.

Other Starting Issues

  • If the Civic's starter sounds like it is operating normally but the engine does not run, check that you are using a properly coded key, that you have fuel in the tank and that none of the fuses are blown.

Other Issues

  • If you cannot start your engine using any of the above solutions, have your car towed if necessary to a technician who can help solve the problem.