Overheating + Coolant leak

[Dude]

I really havent had any issues with my motor since I got the car but a few nights back I was driving around with my friend when we pulled up to a red light and we noticed a bunch of steam comming out from the hood, i checked the temp gauge and it was all the way up. So I pulled over and popped the hood to find coolant sprayed everywhere. So I let her cool down, opened the coolant tank and filled it with water and drove home with the temp all the way up. I havent had time to check it out yet as its been rainy outside. But I was wondering what usually causes this stuff. Should I be looking for a busted hose, bad pump, or what? Thanks a bunch guys

[ak-]

Sprayed everywhere? Look for a hose, though why did you continue to drive it with the temp all the way up?

[Danny]

Dude.

[Dude]

Sprayed everywhere? Look for a hose, though why did you continue to drive it with the temp all the way up?

I let it cool down, filled with water, then drove it 3 minutes to my friends house, it didnt go all the way up but it was just about in the red. Then the next morning I drove it 15 minutes back home and it never smoked but it was almost in the red the whole time. It looked like it was spraying somewhere, there was a puddle on the frame part under the motor and on the sides

[Danny]

Well just look around dummy.

[Dude]

Well just look around dummy.

Sowwy

[bmw325csi]

Check the water pump

[ak-]

I let it cool down, filled with water, then drove it 3 minutes to my friends house, it didnt go all the way up but it was just about in the red. Then the next morning I drove it 15 minutes back home and it never smoked but it was almost in the red the whole time. It looked like it was spraying somewhere, there was a puddle on the frame part under the motor and on the sides

A puddle isn't going to help find the source really since it can run down any part of your car.
First thing though; stop driving your damn car....

Let your car cool down and look around your bay for anything. Once cool, turn it up and have your buddy rev the motor up and down and look for squirts/leaks of coolant. Clean up the mess and keep doing it till traced.
And stop driving your car.

[jlevie]

If the gage reached the red, there is a very good chance that the head gasket has or will soon fail.

A pressure test of the cooling system will tell you if there are any leaks and where they are.

[Dude]

Just took a better look, fan belt was off the pulley and shredded. I think there might also be a leak somewhere too. Becuase we filled the resivor and then ran the motor for a minute or two and it lowered about and inch. Or could it have lowered becuase the fluid was circulating and the "leak" was simply the relief valve?

[Danny]

Got so hot it boiled over. Obviously.

[Dude]

got so hot it boiled over. Obviously.

<3

[Dude]

Anyone know what all has to be pulled to get to the fan belt? Also anyone know where to find that belt on pelican parts?

[Jean]

realoem.com live it.

[Dude]

Is the fan belt specific for the car or does anyone know the size so i can get the belt from an auto parts store?