1991 Toyota Cressida

DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON A FL TURNPIKE. THE TEMP. WAS 85 DEG. F. TRAVELING AT ABOUT 80 MPH (GENERAL TRAFFIC WAS TRAVELING AT THAT SPEED). A COUPLE ON IN A TRUCK WAS INDICATING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH OUR CAR (THEY ACUALLY STATED THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE). THE CAR WAS HANDLING OK AT THE TIME AND THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL SMELLS. I PULLED OVER INTO AN EXIT AS SOON AS THE WAY WAS CLEAR, AND WHEN I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, THE BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR - THE CAR GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, A PLUME OF BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD, PROPED IT OPEN - THE FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS (THEY HAD ARRIVED ON THE SCENE WITHIN 15 MINUTES). BECAUSE OF RECENT INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, I'VE BECOME AWARE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR '1991-'1992 CRESSIDAS. APARENTLY, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS FAILING AT SOME POINT AFTER 100K MILES, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK PAST THE GASKET ONTO THE HOT MANIFOLD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I STARTED THE READ THESE REPORTS, THIS INCIDENT BEGAN TO MAKE SENSE. I MAINTAINED OUR CAR VERY CONSCIENTIOUSLY, FOCUSING ON PREVENTITIVE MAINTENANCE TO KEEP IT IN EXCELLENT RUNNING ORDER. UP TO THIS POINT OUR CRESSIDA HAS PROVEN VERY RELIABLE AND WE HAD BEEN VERY HAPPY OWNERS.. *AK