WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH GOING UPHILL ON EXPRESSWAY, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SMOKE AND FLAME. BY THE TIME WE GO TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WE HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NOTHING WAS WORKING. CAR WAS TOTALLY COVERED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE INTENSE. ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED WITHIN SECONDS OF OUR PULLING OVER WITH A MEDIUM SIZED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE PROCEEDED TO LAY ON HIS BACK AND TOTALLY EMPTY THE EXTINGUISHER FROM UNDER THE CAR, WHICH MADE NO DIFFERENCE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED (WITHIN 10 MINUTES), THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY BURNED. I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE CLOSED OUT PE02-079, BUT BELIEVE IT TO BE RELATED. THE CAR IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THE CAR HAD A MAJOR SERVICE AT 67,000 MILES, INCLUDING A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT ON JULY 24TH, 2003. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *LA