I WAS ALERTED TO A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE WHEN I HEARD THE CAR ALARM SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE ALARM BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS, BUT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD, AND RAN WATER IN THE AREA WHERE THE SMOKE ORIGINATED. AFTER DISCOVERING THAT WATER WASN'T STOPPING THE SMOKE, I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE SMOKE CLEARED AND IT APPEARED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ORIGINATED IN THE AREA OF THE ABS SYSTEM/MASTER CYLINDER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP AS A SHORT IN THE ABS MODULE, CAUSING A WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. THESE TWO PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED, AND THE OLD PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY, PEMCO. *TR