2002 Jeep Wrangler Fuel System Problems

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PALISADES PARKWAY GOING ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. I WAS ABLE TP PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF. WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE IDLE WAS OVER 4000 RPMS. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND ON INSPECTION FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY SEIZED OPEN. THROTTLE BODY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY OR AN INEXPERIENCED PERSON WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL. *TR

LAST NIGHT A FIRE TRUCK (HOOK AND LADDER) SHOWED UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. AS I WALKED OUT THE DOOR I NOTICED THREE FIREMEN LOOKING UNDER AND AROUND MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. WHEN I ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON THE FIREMEN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS REPORTED BY ON OF MY NEIGHBORS! TURN OUT THE SMELL WAS GASOLINE AND WAS INDEED ORIGINATING FROM MY 2002 JEEP WRANGLER. WE BROUGHT THE JEEP INTO THE SHOP AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SOLENOID PURGE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT WENT BAD AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE EXCESS FUEL IS DISCHARGED OUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE SMELLING. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO RUN RICH, FOUL SPARK PLUGS, REDUCE MILEAGE AND YES, THERE'S THE CONCERN OVER THE EXCESS FUEL, NOT TO MENTION THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS ALSO NOW ON. THE JEEP HAS ~32K MILES AND IS NOW PAST 3 YEARS (3YR/36MILES) HOWEVER WE PURCHASED THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" WHICH AS IT TURNS OUT DOES NOT COVER THIS FAILED COMPONENT. COST $180.00 TO US. MY CONCERNS: 1. FIRE HAZARD? THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG! STRONG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A VISIT BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT! 2. FUEL ECONOMY....$2.15/GALLON FOR 87 OCTANE 3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS? THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THE EXCESS FUEL IS ROUTED STRAIGHT OUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM! DO I REALLY WANT TO GO OFF READING WITH THIS VEHICLE SPEWING EXCESS GASOLINE OUT THE EXHAUST AS I TAKE IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED? MY QUESTION: IS THIS COMPONENT FAILURE COMMON? IS THE FAILURE MODE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS TO MY WELL BEING IN THE EVENT WE HAVE A RECURRENCE? HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS BEFORE?

THE 2002 JEEP WRANGLER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I270 AROUND ST LOUIS AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. COMPLETE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRE. R.A. BOTT, SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR JEEP, CLAIMED NO MALFUNCTION BY JEEP. THIS WAS A FUEL LINE EXPLOSION IN THAT THE FUEL LINE ENDED UP WITH A PIN HOLE LEAK AND SPRAYED FUEL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE WRANGLER CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP MINUTES AFTER I GOT OFF THE ROAD. THANK YOU TO A VEHICLE THAT ALERTED ME TO THE FIRE COMING OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING. *JS

AT START UP, VEHICLE SHAKES AND SOUNDS LIKE INJECTORS ARE MISSING, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE BOGGS AND RUNS ROUGH/HESITATES WHEN COLD. REAR PORTION OF SOFT TOP LOCATED NEAR BOTTOM OF TAILGATE HAS GAP. REAR WEATHERSTRIP ADJUSTED. *TT