THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE AND SHAKE WHILE RUNNING. WHEN STOPPED ON A RED LIGHT THE WIPER CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE TURNED IT SELF OFF. AFTER 2 TRIES TO RESTART THE VEHICLE I SMELLED BURNED RUBBER AND OPTED TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND ABANDON THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE HAZARD LIGHTS LASTED LESS THAN 2 MINUTES BEFORE DYING COMPLETELY. I WAS STRANDED ON A 3 LANE AVENUE WITHOUT ANY HAZARD LIGHTS OR ANY PUBLIC LIGHTING. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK FINALLY CAME IN THE CAR WAS BEEN PULLED UP THE FLATBED THE REAR DOOR UNLOCKED ITSELF AND ALL THE PAPERS WHERE DISPERSED THRU THE AVENUE AT NIGHT. WE HAD TO SHUT THE DOOR WITH DUCT TAPE AND TAKE IT HOME. NEXT DAY THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHERE HE FIRST TRIED CHANGING THE BATTERY (WHICH WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTH OLD) AND HE NOTICED THAT THE POSITIVE CABLE TURNED CHERRY RED. HE PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE BATTERY AND TO FOLLOW THE CABLES. HE FOUND A MAIN CABLE CLOSE TO THE ALTERNATOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT THE COVERING HAD PEALED OFF AND WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BODY. HE PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THIS AND ALSO FOUND OUT THE ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN FULLY BURNED OUT (ALTHOUGH I DID NOT SEE FIRE OR SUSTANCIAL SMOKE I DID FEEL THAT NASTY PLASTIC/RUBBER SMOKE SCENT) . HE TOLD US HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE DURING THIS INCIDENT DUE TO THE WIRING FAILURE. AFTER REPLACING THE CABLE, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY IT NOW SEEMS THE ECU OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WAS ALSO DAMAGED DURING THE INCIDENT.