White smoke coming out of outside vents and lost powering steering
 

I need help! I have a 2000 porsche boxster, today while driving on the highway i notice white smoke coming out of outside vent. I notice the car not really running hot but the gauge was not in the middle a little up. Pulled the car over and white smoke coming from the vent. Decided to drive it up the road to a better place and suddenly lost power steering! Car still starts but three lights on the dash light up abs, something and something else cant remember. Can anyone help. What do you think. I have to have it towed but i really would like to know before i get it fixed. Thanks

Initial thoughts are that you lost the serpentine belt due to a worn belt, and/or your waterpump went South (esp. since you experienced the 'smoke').

The belt supplies power to the PS as well as the alternator and the waterpump.

Could be much worse, but keeping fingers crossed.

Cheers!

What could be the worst! Does the belt and or the water pump alot!

Why is this guy who has worked on the porsche before has put TWO ignition key in with in two years. I want to be able to tell him what i think cux he charges us so much money to fix the porsche! I think he charges us way too much!!

I c along time ago in 2008 a person had the same problem and you post and told him what to do! Did it all work out for him and was it the same problem as mine?

Mine did that friday but didnt loose power steering...Car flashed hot hot hot on my temp guage but my needle was still in the middle(odd) but pulled over and white smoke was coming from my pass side vent and then i look down and anti freeze(green stuff) was all on the ground by the pass wheel. Hope this isnt an expensive fix and hoping i just busted a hose? Hmm

A flashing temp light means either low coolant or intake fan not working. A solid light indicates an overheat condition. Based on "green stuff on the ground", I'd say it was indicating low coolant. Likely either a ruptured hose or a blown water pump. Coolant steam has a pretty distinctive smell - not at all like oil smoke.

The P-side rear wheel well is where the overflow drains to.

This could indicate a lost serpentine belt (waterpump stops, coolant superheats and causes the reservoir cap to vent), or a failed WP resulting in the same symptom.

Could be a hose, but I'm betting on overflow.

Cheers!

I'm betting water pump ceased...common issue.

The exact same thing happened to me while driving home. I had it towed to a shop and was told my water pump failed. I was quoted $1153 for everything including new belt, bearings, pump, and coolant.

'03 Boxster base