1999 DODGE DURANGO — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND LURCH. SHORTLY AFTER, SMOKE BEGAN TO APPEAR FROM CENTER CONSOLE AND HVAC DUCTS AS ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED ONTO SHOULDER AND STOPPED; BY THEN HEAVY SMOKE WAS POURING FROM CENTER CONSOLE AREA AND HVAC VENTS. DRIVER BAILED OUT AND WATCHED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS INTERIOR COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION DETERMINED UNDERBODY SOUND DAMPENING MAT HAD BEEN IGNITED BY OVERHEATED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BURNING UNDERBODY MAT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED EXTENSIVE THERMAL DAMAGE TO CENTER CONSOLE, CARPET, AND HVAC DUCTS INSIDE CONSOLE. ROOT CAUSE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATING WAS ATTRIBUTED BY DEALER MECHANIC TO POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT CONNECTION OF COIL WIRE, ALLOWING EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL/AIR MIXTURE TO BE PASSED TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK