to open the hood there is a lever by your left foot when sitting in the driver's seat - pull it. then go to the front of the car. there is either a tab that comes out of the grill OR there may be two releases under the hood above the fog lights (not sure how your's is, mine is the first).
as for the parking lights - on most models the headlight switch also activates the "standing lights". they are for parking in areas where you are afraid your car could be hit while parked briefly up on the sidewalk, double parking on new york city streets, etc. in order for the lights to be totally turned off the switch must be verticle - up and down. if you turn the knob all the way to the left you will turn on the left standing light (parking light) - turn it one more click to the right and the right standing light is illuminated. turn it yet one more click to the right and the lights are off.
as far as smoking goes - does it just smoke on start up? if it does then your valve stem seals are probably hard and need to be replaced - or - worse case scenario - one or more of the guides are shot. do you have any maintenance info from the previous owner?