general problems of the 1998 Mercury Mountaineer

Under my hood started smoking, I popped my hood to find flames under it. I had to get my kids out the truck and put the flames out with and extinguisher. That's when I noticed that my brake fluid reservoir was melted and so were the wires that connect to the cruise control switch. Not I am without a vehicle to get to work and get my children to school.

The check engine light on my 1998 Mercury Mountaineer has come on 10 times in the last 2 1/2 years. All times, except one, were due to the catalytic converter. The converter has been replaced, yet the problem continues. I've contacted Mercury every time, & get no satisfaction. The last time I was told "parts wear out. . . Deal with it. " my dispute isn't that something is wrong, it's wanting to know why it can't be fixed. No one can give me an answer.