I have a 2001 1500 and when i get done driving the truck starts hissing and smoking and i can kinda see a leak in the middle of the engine just above the pulleys smells like coolant and also when i drive my “check gauges” light goes crazy and temp gauge bounces from over heating to normal

 

You have a coolant leak. Gotta find out where it’s coming from. The gauge is bouncing due to air in the system from being low on coolant.

 

Probably the water pump.

 

That's my first choice too.

https://www.flowkoolerwaterpumps.com...low-water-pump
These are nice pumps for better than stock replacement. I had one on the Jeep and Corvette. 110 out in the desert, AC on, and wheeling in sand or on the road, stayed at 190 all day. The Corvette 185.

 

Awesome thank you

 

Only a two year warranty. I got tired of replacing water pumps so got a new Bosch pump and a lifetime warranty from where i got it. First one lasted 5 years almost to the day. I'm on the second one witch i think lasted longer than the first. Lost track of when i did it but so far no issues. The one that failed did not leak even when the bearings where bad.

 

Check your thermostat housing to make sure it isn't leaking. If there's no leak there, you can try to wiggle the water pump side to side. If it moves, the bearings are shot and you need a new water pump. If it doesn't move, get in there with a light and look at the weep hole on the bottom of the pump and see if there's a stain from the coolant that has leaked. If you replace the water pump, now would be a good time to replace the thermostat with a new 195 degree one as well as fresh coolant in the engine. The antifreeze protion never goes away but the anticorrosion in your coolant does fade after about 5 years.