Accord owners, need some advice

[jmowreader]

I and my evil twin cousin the OldSoldier bought a 1986 Honda Accord LXi sedan yesterday.

Okay, I haven't driven the thing except on the test drive, but that couple of miles impressed the hell out of me--even on the worn-out tires it has, it handles very well and it's got plenty of power. This one has a power moonroof (which still works), power windows (all but one work), air conditioner (works too)...basically, the most loaded car I've ever owned. (It has a 5-speed transmission, which I like. This is an automatic-transmission town and used manuals basically have no market, which is why I got it so cheap.) And it only has 225,000 miles, which means it's still fairly young as Hondas go. And for $600 even the price was good. As soon as I get some legal rubber on it and change the belts and fluids, it's going on the road.

Here's the advice I need: How in hell do I check the coolant level in the overflow tank? That little bottle sits way down in the car, where you can't really see it.

[Spider Jerusalem]

1. I don't have that problem with mine...

(I have a '91), but I'd suggest just taking the cap off and looking down in there with a flashlight.

[HEyHEY]

2. piece of dowel

make shift dipstick

[madrchsod]

3. i`ve had a couple of these

never really checked the level just filled it all the way up and drove it..the last one i had had a leak i could never find so i just filled it everyday with water-anti freeze, the windshield wipers didn`t work for two years so i just used rain-x....check and make sure the axles don`t click-check rubber boots on the drive joints. they are great cars...

[Richardo]

4. I've got a '90 with 225K on it...

Isn't there a float on the cap that allows you to see where the level is? Or am I thinking of the window washer reservoir?

[OldSoldier]

5. You're thinking of the windshield washer reservoir

In this car there's a long tube leading to the coolant overflow. It bends and twists around the retractable-headlight bucket, so you can't use a dowel as a dipstick--and yes, I thought of that one already. Won't work.

[regnaD kciN]

8. That's nothing!

My '91 just passed the 300,000-mile mark.

[MaineDem]

6. Shine a flashlight

The tank should be marked to see the levels. Hot and Cold should be marked and you should be able to see the level through the reservoir.

"Should" being the operative word here. Also, there's a disclaimer that my knowledge is limited to Civics but my husband said it should (that word again) be very similar on the Accord.

[MaineDem]

7. Did you ever solve the problem? (nt)

.