Honda: Honda Prelude Cooling System, honda prelude, 1988 honda prelude

Question
My car is a 1988 Honda Prelude Si 4 wheel steering. Last Friday my check engine light came on yellow.  Nothing sounded odd, she was running fine, but I drove the mile home anyway and let her sit until monday.   I drove to school and the light didn't come one, but when I put her in drive she was doing a really pronounced rolling idle.  I didn't think anything of it, and after class drove about three miles home.  When I got there and stopped my car, I noticed there was smoke/steam?? coming from the side with the battery.  I popped my hood and noticed there was coolant all over the battery tray and spilling onto the ground.  I called a friend who knows a little about cars and he said to push on one of the bigger black pipes.  I did this and it was a little soft.  The friend said my cooling system had lost it's pressure, and that I needed to find out exactly where the leak or broken pipe was.  I looked all over the left side of my car (passenger side) and couldn't figure out what needs to be done.  Do I need a new radiator? Is my engine cooked from the over heating? Can I just replace a hose? I'm a student and don't have an income, so I need to try and make this work. Thanks.

Answer
Well you may have a hole in a hose or the radiator.By your description of the location it sounds like maybe the large hose near the battery or a heater hose.Usually its a hose that is not easy to find.The only safe way to find the leak is with a pressure tester.You may be able to rent or borrow one from a parts store.You simply attach  it to the radiator,pump it up and see where the leak is.Don't drive the car until you fix the problem.