AS WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE ENGINE HESITATED OR STUTTERED AS WE CAME TO A STOP. AS I ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, THE ENGINE HESITATED, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE TOP LEFT REAR OF THE ENGINE COVER ON FIRE. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH HAD BY THEN CONSUMED MOST OF THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS ON TOP AND REAR OF THE ENGINE. *TR