Smoking Timing Belt Area/engine Shutdown. Wha?

[LEXUS_DOWN]

:cries: ok, just got off interstate exit, traveling at about 35 mph. Then, sudden bang noise or backfire from rear of the car (my boyfriend says it was a single bang; i heard several), white smoke starts coming from under hood, engine slows and quits, we coast to a stop. I pop the hood, smoke is coming from timing belt area, BUT, a man pulled over and told us he had seen what looked like flames UNDERNEATH the car. electrical? we can't find any evidence of fire underneath (blackened stuff, etc.) also. the car seems to be completely locked down electric-wise. no evidence of electric anything, car will not even allow itself to be shifted into neutral to be pushed home. we found a piece of aluminum under the car that looks like it may be a piece of a heat shield. Could it be part of a broken valve? there also appears to be a dent on top of the valve covering heat shield. checked oil, enough in engine; no presence of water in it. no leaking oil, but small leakage of a dark fluid that does not smell or taste like oil. what could have happened? everything was running fine before this event, aside from an occasional VERY slight rough idle. Anyone have any ideas or explanations? we need help badly (don't want to get ripped off by mechanic due to ignorance of the problem) and would appreciate any information at all. Thanks... by the way, the car is a '96 LEXUS ES300 w/ 89,000 miles. :(

[1995_ES300]

Hope you dont get cancer...

[vcv10guy]

From the timing belt area? When was the last time you had the timing belt and water pump replaced? White smoke could be the coolant being burnt. You mentioned a dark liquid, but not were it's coming from. Either way you have to bring it to someone to have it professionally looked at. Did the check engine light come on at all before or after the engine failed?

[ArmyofOne]

sounds like you ran something over that may have torn your wiring harness.

as for yoru timing belt, it is probably broken...a 96 should be non interference...meaning no internal engine damage if the belt fails...

use the shift lock override to shift into neutral.