98 escort ZX2: works fine, loses power, chugs, dies, and smoke from exhaust

[riotgirl]

My escort was driving fine, then it was losing power and chugging at the stop light[felt like it would run outta gas], so I drove to a parking lot where it slowly chugged in[major loss of power], darkish smoke came outta exhaust...then engine and oil lights came on and it stopped on me[when it stopped the steering was extremely rigid: hard to turn]. I left it a few hours[not knowing what to do], and it started fine[no engine or oil light] and drove it home. It sat a day, then as I was doing errands it pulled the same thing, except wayyyy less smoke[only a puff this time]. I think I need a new timing belt, and an oil change is in order....but does anyone know what could be wrong? I'm gonna take it to a mechanic tomorrow morning, and I don't wanna be given "the shaft" cuz a girl walked in the door, ya know? PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!
thanx

[Jet-Lee]

your steering god rigid cause ur power steering pump went out...if its puffin smoke, sounds like u got oil in ur cylinders (depending on color). What color is the smoke? could be head gasket or piston rings...

[amature]

The steering problem is normal when the car dies like that. The smoke could be a blown head gasket (as above) and you may have black or whitish smoke coming out of your exhaust. Sheck the coolant level in your car and also check the colour and level of your engine oil. If the oil is creamy then your coolant is leaking into your oil (head gasket). You could have had a vlave go bad or the valve guide go on you. Black smoke would probably indicate this. If the smoke is bluish then it is probably fuel - this is unlikely in newer models with electronic fuel injection. Does the car idle properly at other times? Good luck eh!!!