Jerilynne,

CSF has a good idea with the class. Check your local community college. They may even have one that is oriented toward women, not that you couldn't hold your own in a mixed class. Usually these are non-credit classes that meet just a couple times and teach the basics of auto maintenance. The intent is so you will understand the basic workings and not feel overwhelmed when you take your car in for service or need to change a tire. You will learn terminology and where basic things are. After that see if they have some further course where you can start learning how things work and how to repair them. I just took an autobody course last spring and it was great, I learned a lot.

If there is eveidence of leaking around the hoses, check to see if the clamps are tight. Also feel the hoses when the motor is cool and if they feel soft, the probably need to be replaced. You water pump is at the front of the engine, it should have a cone shaped pully and your cooling fan attached to the front of it. THe large hose coming from the bottom of you radiator will connect to the underside of it. There may be another smaller hose coming from near the top, that would be a heater hose.

Hope that helps, I also suggest that you look for a shop manual for your car, it will prove invaluable if you plan to keep the car for a while.

Good luck with it!

Pat