#2003 honda accord coolant reservoir cap how to#

This may give you a hint that this is the problem. Check to see if your overflow reservoir is draining slowly over the course of a few miles. In this situation you’ll likely notice a leak on the ground or in the engine bay when you reach your destination, but not when you start driving. The pressure will eventually be enough to force coolant through the tiny hole and your car will slowly lose coolant. As you drive, pressure in the cooling system will build. You will often see a pinpoint leak that only sprays coolant when the car is warmed up.Ī hose with a small hole may actually seal just fine when the car is cold. Most of the time the pressure isn’t high enough to rip the hose in half. If pressure in the cooling system is too high, you are likely to see one or more hoses start to spray coolant all over the engine bay.

5) Radiator Hose Bursts radiator hose ready to burst If this happens, inspect the cap to see if there is any damage. The vacuum won’t be released by the radiator cap properly and it will cause the radiator hose to collapse during the cooling down period. You may have a bad radiator cap if the radiator hose collapses. While you’re in there, check to make sure your coolant overflow tank is working properly. If you have a bad radiator cap, the coolant could get released too quickly and cause the reservoir to overflow. The radiator cap releases the extra pressure by sending some coolant into the overflow tank. 3) Overflowing ReservoirĬoolant goes into the reservoir tank as it expands. They may tell you the cap is leaking under pressure or intermittently. While you may not notice coolant leaking from under the radiator cap, look out for these white streaks. When coolant leaks out of the radiator filler neck and dries, it often leaves white streaks behind. Related: 5 Causes of Coolant Loss Without Visible Leaks 2) White Streaks on Radiator Check to see if the radiator has holes in it or if the cap looks worn or damaged. If you notice coolant near the radiator or the radiator cap, then you clearly have leaky coolant. If the radiator cap is stuck, pressure may build inside of the radiator, which could cause cooling system components to leak or burst. Signs of a Faulty Radiator Cap 1) Leaking Coolant Other Cooling System Problems (Bad Thermostat).Flushing the coolant on a regular basis removes gunk and mineral deposits from your engine, while prolonging the life of your heater core, thermostat, hoses and water pump. If you spill coolant when you flush your Accord, be sure to put down cat litter to soak it up to discard it.

#2003 honda accord coolant reservoir cap how to#

The video above shows you where the petcock on your radiator is located, how to flush the coolant / antifreeze and how to burp the system to get the air out of your Accord.Ĭoolant is toxic and animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant (antifreeze).

When you flush your coolant, which is antifreeze, on your 2003, you are draining out all of the old dirty coolant and preventing costly radiator and cooling system repair down the road. Like the oil in your Accord, coolant gets dirty over time and loses its ability to cool down your 3.0 liter engine. Turn off the engine and drain the water, fill up the radiator with antifreeze until you have a 50/50 coolant / distilled water mixture and burp the system. Fill up the radiator with distilled water and run the engine. This video shows where the radiator drain plug (petcock) is located on a 2003 Honda Accord. Start your coolant flush by draining the coolant / antifreeze that is in your reservoir, then drain the coolant that is in your radiator by opening the petcock or removing the lower radiator hose. In addition to preventing your car from overheating, coolant / antifreeze also helps lubricate the seals in the water pump and hoses. Coolant / antifreeze also passes through the heater core under your cowl to provide heat to the cabin of your Accord. Coolant / antifreeze circulates through Accord radiator and engine to maintain the proper temperature. Learn how to flush the coolant (antifreeze) in your 2003 Honda Accord.