Just spotted this in Trailer Life:

"Ford Motor Company has recalled 4.5 million vehicles equipped with the Texas Instruments Speed Control Deactivation Switch (SCDS). The SCDS may leak internally and then overheat, smoke or burn, which could cause a vehicle fire."

See the whole article at:

http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?ID=2325907

On the cover of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" it reads...
"DON"T PANIC"
the publishers claim that is the most important statement in the whole book!

I have owned several affected vehicles and my 2001 Ranger [9years and 130,000 miles so far] will be the first of my vehicles to actually get repaired under the program.

Since the odds of a fire are about the same as a "lootery" win, I have kept my cruise control until they finally got the fuse kit in stock.

I called today and they have the parts and will want the truck for about an hour, so I will get this done next week with no sense of apprehension before or relief afterward.

If you have one of these, my advice is to first take the advice from the cover of the afforementioned book, then call for an appointment, and be sure they have the part.

Manufacturer: Ford
Product: Ford Vehicles
Start Date: 2009-10-13 End Date: 2009-11-13
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
FORD / ECONOLINE 1992-2003

FORD / EXCURSION 2000-2003

FORD / EXPLORER 1995-2002

FORD / F SUPER DUTY 1993-1997 1999-2003

FORD / F53 1994

FORD / RANGER 1995-1997 2001-2003

FORD / WINDSTAR 1995-2003

MERCURY / MOUNTAINEER 1995 2002

Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY Mfr's Report Date: OCT 09, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V399000 N/A

NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Potential Number of Units Affected: 4500000

Summary:
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-SUPER DUTY, 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, 1995-2002 EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence:
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy:
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SCDS. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-222-2751.

Notes:
FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 09S09. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV