it ran hot on me last night and also made a few noises

Question:
I have a 99 cougar 6cyl and it ran hot on me last night and also made a few noises and went dead on me,i crank it back up and got it home and popped the hood there were smoke coming from the coolant jug.what could be some diagnostics for this problem?

Answer:
You need to check the coolant level once the vehicle has cooled off. Here are the main reasons a vehicle will overheat.1. Faulty thermostat - Thermostat is usually located before the radiator inside the upper radiator hose. When the temperature of the vehicle gets to "operating temperature" the thermostat will open, allowing coolant to flow through the radiator, where it's cooled.2. Faulty water pump - The water pump helps build up the pressure to make sure the coolant will is flowing. Coolant can become restricted.` 3. Restriction in Radiator will comprimise coolant flow4. radiator fans keep the radiator cool when the vehicle is not moving. If they do not activate at idle, the vehicle can overheat.

Engine Overheating Diagnostics