YACT: honda civic questions

[rh71]

Have a '97 Civic... complaining of white smoke coming from the exhaust... (hadn't driven it for a week)... what could be the cause of this ?

Also, how much does a front axle usually cost to replace including labor ? Dang potholes I guess... new driver so it may have caused it.

 

[Heisenberg]

White smoke usually indicates coolant is getting into the cylinders. A bad head gasket is the most common cause of this IIRC.

 

[rh71]

i'm reading head gasket all over the web too... does this usually mean replacement also ? Cost ?

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, you have to at least replace the gasket. When they do it, they should also check to make sure the head isn't warped or anything. The cost depends on how much of a PITA it is - I would guess somewhere in the $200-400 range. Obviously, you want to make sure that's what it is before you have any work done.

 

[deadlyapp]

Does it always throw out white smoke, or only on start or occasionally?

 

[rh71]

the smoke - only happened once after starting it, after a week being idle...

he's also complaining of it "dipping" down more than usual on braking... what's the cause of this ? If it were bad shocks, it wouldn't have the ability to stay up so that it dips again right ?

 

[Minjin]

What makes you think it needs an axle? And if you haven't driven the car in a week and are on the east coast, white exhaust for a bit is going to be perfectly normal due to all the moisture in the air.

Mark

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: rh71
Have a '97 Civic... complaining of white smoke coming from the exhaust... (hadn't driven it for a week)... what could be the cause of this ?

Also, how much does a front axle usually cost to replace including labor ? Dang potholes I guess... new driver so it may have caused it.

Its an illusion. Japanese cars, particularly Hondas, don't have problems. Maybe your car is a GM in disguise, since we all know only American cars have problems.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: rh71
the smoke - only happened once after starting it, after a week being idle...

he's also complaining of it "dipping" down more than usual on braking... what's the cause of this ? If it were bad shocks, it wouldn't have the ability to stay up so that it dips again right ?

Oh it only smoked right after starting? Then yeah, that's probably just moisture in the exhaust.

 

[0roo0roo]

dipping is dampeners right?
axels would made thud thud noise on sharp turns i think

 

[rh71]

what are dampeners ?