Hi, new to the forum and all. I've been googling for ages to solve my problem. I have a Honda Civic VEi -93.

So basically first symptoms were shown during winter (live in Sweden, so it gets kinda cold). It would take a couple of seconds before it would start. I figured, old car plus cold weather equals not BFF. But then it would also happen during summer. Sometimes it just wouldn't start unless I turned the key for several seconds. That would rarely happen during summer though. But as of today, it will never start unless I try for several seconds, and even then it takes several attempts before it starts. Usually it dies slowly 1-2 times and smoke rises from the hood, but afterwards it starts.

So everyone can draw the conclusion that something is really wrong with the startup process. The funny thing is, when it does start it goes like a charm and there is no problem whatsoever to restart the engine... unless you let it be for the night. Day after, BANG! Same process all over, won't start, and so on.

Now, I have really tried my google skills to find a similar problem, and while I did find something, everyone seemed to converge to a bad main relay. I resoldered the main relay, still the same problem. Now my last effort of will is turned to this forum, is there anyone out there who have the slightest idea of what the problem could be? IF it is a mechanical problem, why is it that I can restart the engine with no problems at all after I get it to run? This seems to imply an electrical problem, but honestly I just don't know where to look. There is no CEL. Could it be flooding? And what can a dude do to fix that?

 

You should find out exactly where the smoke is coming from under the hood. Where there's smoke, there's a problem.

 

The engine started on the first try, so now I have to wait until tomorrow since it will start fine now.