WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST THURSDAY (10 MINUTES ON THE INTERSTATE, 97 DEGREES, FULL AC), WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER FOLLOWED BY TRANSMISSION LURCHING AND ENGINE TRYING TO DIE. PULLED THE REMAINING BLOCK INTO MY APTS AND OPENED HOOD EXPECTING TO FIND OVERHEATED ENGINE, AND ENDED UP SEE A BUNCH OF FLAME AND SIGNING MY THUMB. GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT IT OUT, AND CALLED FIRE DEPT. NO WORK WAS DONE TO ENGINE OTHER THAN A NEW AIR FILTER 4000 MILES AGO. SO FAR THE FORD DEALER WANTS TO WRITE IT OFF AS COMPLETE LOSS AND LEAVE IT TO MY INSURANCE. TOOK OUT MY AIR INTAKE, MELTED BATTERY, MELTED BATTERY WIRES, RUINED HOOD, SCROCHED HEADLIGHT, SMOKED INTERIOR, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT GOT SUCKED INTO ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE. DEALER WOULDN'T TOW BECAUSE "WARRANTY TOWS HAVE TO BE CALLED IN THROUGH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE". PHOTOS ARE UP AT HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/ARCHANGEL_JJN. CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. *AK