TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 80 MPH, HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR. HE THEN ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND FLAMES WERE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE THEN OBSERVED FLUIDS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 133,000.