2002 996 targa - got off exit ramp fri - looked in rear view mirror and saw steam pouring out rear. Pulled off almost immediately - opened lid and major steam all over. Had it towed - bunch of water streamed out after I stopped. Resouvir to left side engine empty. What do u think???

 

Cracked water pump would be my first guess. Had something similar happen on my Cayman a few years ago.

 

+100 (but can also be a cracked reservoir). Smart move shutting off car ASAP and getting it towed. good reading here: http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic...p-replacement/

Good time to also check/replace the t-stat, hoses/tubing, reservoir and cap.

 

Water pump or cracked reservoir. A way i found the problem was take the cap off the coolant put a rubber cap on the opening with a small hole cut in it. And shoot some low pressure air in there. You should see where the coolant is leaking from.

 

Sounds like a water pump to me too. I've heard many people recommend replacing the water pump every 40,000 miles for the 996.

 

Yep, sounds about right . Mine went at 42K miles ( 99 C2 ), 1500 dollars later and I was back on the road... Did you look at the water temp gauge prior to shut down?? BTW I replaced THREE water pumps on a Mercedes, like every 20K miles, so this is not unusual in the German car world.

 

3? Which Mercedes year and model?

 

260E quite some time ago of course.. That was supposed to be a bullet proof car. It was not.