blown engine or blown radiator.
 

I was in dead stop traffic when the engine bay started smoking. by the time i had a chance to pull it to teh side somethign poped under the hood. i pushed it to teh side opened the hood and the top plastic piece on teh radiator was cracked in half right down the middle. I dotn know y it over heated because i has never over heated before. do you guys think the motor went or do you think its just teh radiator, and how can i check if the motor is still good. thanks for all the help.

start with the cheaper fix, replace the radiator before you tackle the motor.

Agreed. Granted, overheating like that is horrible for the engine, lets just hope the problem is isolated to the radiator!

You can test the engine before you sink money into a new rad using a cooling system pressure tester. Use a temporary piece of hose to connect the engine's radiator inlet and outlet, and plug the passenger side heater line. Pressurize the system and check for internal leaks (if fluid level goes down with no external leaks, it's leaking internally).

i had the same problem before, i overheated the engine not once, but 3 times in one night, trying to pull in from a freeway to a gas station, left it there for the night and pulled it with a flatbed truck the following morning. I replaced the radiator and up till now, the car still runs. you could be lucky like me, overheated the engine and still fine, or it could be the other way around and it could be toasted. who knows.

ADVICE:

I agree with those 3 people above me, replace your radiator first, then try if it runs. if it doesn't, it's safe that you need a new motor.