The car has had only routine maintenance done on it. Thats all nothing else
has been done to it. After it runs for a few seconds when this happens it
runs so smooth you can't see the motor vibrate. Like I said this only
happens rarely and it always preceded by running the car for a few seconds
and letting it set overnite. We know not to do this but sometimes we
forget.

> From: jim beam <nospam@example.net>
> Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda
> Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 21:14:18 -0800
> Subject: Re: 97 civic starting problem
>
> cavetrekker wrote:
>> I checked it by taking the radiator cap off when the motor was cold and
>> looking there first and it was full and the reservoir levels stays the same.
>
> good.
>
>> If it was a head gasket I don't think it would have gone two years and
>> 30,000 miles since it did it the last time without other symptoms showing up
>
> so the head gasket's gone before? without prior symptoms???? you're
> not telling the whole story...
>
> regarding your poor start problem, mike answered your question already.
>
>
>
>> Thanks,
>> Patrick
>>
>>> From: jim beam <nospam@example.net>
>>> Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda
>>> Date: Fri, 03 Dec 2004 18:09:03 -0800
>>> Subject: Re: 97 civic starting problem
>>>
>>> cavetrekker wrote:
>>>
>>>> The coolant stays the same, I haven't added any water or antifreeze in
>>>> months. I'm thinking it's condensation since it only happens when you don't
>>>> let the car warm up but I was also wondering if it could be unburnt fuel
>>>> that the motor was too cold to cause to evaporate?
>>>
>>> do NOT rely on looking at the bottle. if there's an air leak, the level
>>> stays put and contraction just sucks in air, not fluid from the bottle
>>> like it's supposed to.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>> From: "twfsa" <uksatw@qwest.net>
>>>>> Organization: Cox Communications
>>>>> Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda
>>>>> Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 16:08:30 -0600
>>>>> Subject: Re: 97 civic starting problem
>>>>>
>>>>> If its white smoke its burning coolant(anti Freeze). Head gasket, or
>>>>> coolant
>>>>> is getting into the intake manifold.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is the coolant level where its supose to be?
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:6u6dnYBTRZIIwi3cRVn-pg@sedona.net...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> "cavetrekker" <cavetrekker@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:BDD547CD.588E%cavetrekker@yahoo.com...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We have a 97 civic coupe that we passed on to our daughter. It has a
>>>>>>> strange
>>>>>>> problem I can't figure out. Last night we replaced the battery and it
>>>>>>> wouldn't start today. I came home and after spending about thirty
>>>>>>> minutes
>>>>>>> checking stuff out while she tried to start it I got in it and tried to
>>>>>>> start it giving it a little gas and it sputtered a little and a cloud of
>>>>>>> white smoke came out of the tail pipe it and it missed a little and
>>>>>>> within
>>>>>>> 10 seconds it was running fine. After I got to thinking I remembered
>>>>>>> when
>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>> put the battery in it she started it and let it run a few seconds and
>>>>>>> then
>>>>>>> shut it off. I also remembered a couple of times before when I had
>>>>>>> started
>>>>>>> the engine for a few seconds and then let it set overnite it did the
>>>>>>> same
>>>>>>> thing. I can't decide if the engine is sweating and getting moisture in
>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>> or if it is some kind of fuel issue? Any ideas?
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> Patrick
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm new to cold country (I came from Phoenix) but the locals warned me
>>>>>> about a phenomenon that matches your experience. If the engine is
>>>>>> started,
>>>>>> run without warming up and shut off, the water vapor from combustion will
>>>>>> condense on the plugs. In cold weather the water will freeze onto the
>>>>>> plugs and the car won't start in the morning.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>