My girlfriends 96 break booster has been going out for a while today she was in traffic and when she accelerated is wasn't fully going. Then all her gages started going all over and her car died. She said there was smoke coming from where the booster is and when I try to start it it will start to go then die the first time then just click after that could it be something with the vaccume

 

If it is a vacuum problem, you should be able to plug the hose that that supplies the vacuum to the booster so that the engine doesn't try to run with a big vacuum leak. If it starts and runs fine, then likely you have isolated the problem. Can't say I'd advise driving without the booster working though.

 

vacuum leak at the booster or just a vacuum leak period would not cause gauges to flutter, make smoke or the just click on trying to start - sounds like you prob have a short in the wiring