Think I might just cry!!!

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Amazing how clear everyone's vision is through the retrospectoscope. I could do this: late to work or an appt, raining like h, wife in car already ********************in about 110 heat while inside the car, hearing a noise that comes and goes changing over time that may or may not be your car, potentially losing half a day or more to a problem that at onset is uncertain to even exist. In fact, twice I have driven through questionable problems that turned out to be nothing in my so far very reliable 2001s (replced MAF when I bought it, coolant tank 7 mos later). Ok I too might cry when my car dies, but I refuse to live in fear of this every time I turn the key.
Meanwhile, I agree- you and your car are safely home, you have had a chance to sus it out and it don't look good, flatbed it to a qualified mechanic before cranking it again. Good luck!