My car died 2day
 

Ok so what happened was the temp gauge was reading at the normal level.
I then noticed that even though the read was normal, the red temp light was flashing intermitently. I pulled over about a mile down the road and saw steam/ smoke coming out of the driver side breather and coolant quickly dripping out from under the car.
It was a sorry sight. I hope i havent done too much damage and hope it aint too expensive. I went back to the car an hour later and poured 1 galon of water into the car and it just dripped out the bottom again :(

Im from australia but used US metrics above for your ease

Does anyone know what may have happened?

Is the carpet wet in the rear trunk (boot)? Look under the carpet too.

Could be as simple as a cracked coolant overflow tank, or the more servere IMS.

List your year & mileage.

I am from America but used Aussie terms for your ease! :)

that certainly doesn't sound like IMS. I assume you did not get a flashing CEL?

Again, don't panic.

Could be very simple, hose burst, clamp has let go. Lets hope so. :)

Get the car towed to a competent mechanic and let him have a go at it.

Good luck.

The temperature light blinks when the coolant level is low, and the coolant you saw dripping... they both point toward a failed coolant overflow tank. I'd have it towed home (if you're a DIYer) or to a shop to have it checked out.

IIRC, replacing the tank isn't uber-difficult.

when my coolant cap gave out, it sounds exactly as you describe.
i was driving with my GF, and a bus driver said there is something green leaking out of your car, i pulled over, and all the coolant leaked out, and it leaked all over hot exhaust piping and cats, so there was a lot of white smoke.
filled it up with water, drove home, and on the way back kept refilling.
then did the coolant flush back home, along with a new coolant cap($12)..you will also need to purchase coolant.

do to the DIY section and look at my DIY for coolant, and check the coolant cap numbers and what coolant to use. in my case it wasn't the coolant tank.

Same thing happen to me in a road trip in New-Hampshire.
In my case, It was the water pump on a 76000 miles Boxster, towing cost me more than the repair... I hope that you don't have like mine the old configuration of water pump with plastic impaler, Because we were not able to reteive all the broken parts inside the engine. Price of water pump ±$200.
Good luck

Hopefully it's something minor like a busted hose like others have mentioned. I had something similar happen to me, but it was my water pump that went bad, plus they had to order a new tank or something like that. The total cost was almost $700 to repair. :(

My money is on the water pump, similar issue for me at 62K, what ever you do don't drive it! Have it towed (on a flat bed), total cost for me was a bit over 1K (stealership)

Another water pump guess here.

Here's a water pump:

http://e-partssales.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code =99610634054and99610601155&Category_Code=986Coolin g

Well, the diagnosis?

It was the waterpump!
Total cost: $500 for the pump and $50 for a tow to the mechanic.

The (stealership) said over 1k to fix so im DIY'ing. Save over $500 which is good.

Thankyou for everyone's input and help in trying to figure out what it was. Appreciate it.
Havent started working on the car as yet but lets hope i dont find any extra damage!