Here's how it started:
2 days ago my brake lights were stuck in the "on" position, even after the car was turned off. I pumped the brakes a bit and they went off, then came back on a couple minutes later. I disconnected the fuse, did some reading and realized the rubber bushing for the brake light switch was shot. Took it to a friend the next day and sure enough it was. As a quick fix he replaced the worn bushing with a small bolt, and that did the trick: lights back to working normally.
Drove the car all day with no problems. That night, driving home (late) I suddenly noticed that my muffler sounded really loud, louder than normal. It had had a small hole, so I thought the hole just got a bit bigger and now I really need to fix it. No problem. But the car was also losing power, engine straining, so I turned off the heater (it was a cool night!). When I put the window down, I smelled a really bad burning smell, like burning rubber, but my temp. gauge remained in the same position: just below halfway. No alarms on dash, but engine power got worse, smell got worse, and I began to worry about making it the 5 miles home.
Then, flashing lights in my rear view mirror: uh-oh... I figured I was getting pulled over for noise pollution and disturbing the peace with my loud muffler. No. The cop thought he should stop me because he saw "sparks flying from my wheels"! Sure enough, when I looked, three of the 4 brake rotors were glowing bright red! Not only that, the tailpipe was super hot and started to melt the surrounding plastic and bumper parts! The car was a hot mess - literally! I let it cool for a while, then tried to move it. It was like driving with the parking brake on full hold!! I parked it and left it, and there it sits today, waiting to be towed somewhere.
Now the questions: Could the car be worth saving? Is this multiple system failure or just one or two issues? Specialty repair or generic?
The car is not my main daily driver, but I can't afford to replace it, and I do need it sometimes. Any advice will be appreciated

 

From this description I would guess that the master cylinder is stuck, keeping pressure on the brake lines and preventing the brake pedal from rising and turning off the brake light switch. Master cylinder replacement is relatively straight-forward.

 

Would the extreme heat have ruined the brakes, rotors and calipers? I can see all the little things adding up quickly.

 

thats crazy bro,,, i work on a shop and does brakes but never encountered this kind of situation..

anyways, with your description, i know for a fact that the brakes were on all the time from wherever you left off. the only thing that will activate the brakes is between the brake pedal and your master cylinder.

master cylinder is good because if its bad it does the opposite (you loose brake pedal pressure) .

your friend might have done something with the brake pedal or have fogotten to put back a spring or something.

or maybe you just dont have anymore brake pads @ the rear brakes and fronts causing a metal to metal contact.

not good. new parts will be required sorry

 

I saw this happen on a Camary it was a bad master cylinder.. but I would check the calipers , rotors also if cost is a issue just get complete used spindles from junk yard.

 

Well, went to check on the car today before having it towed. Started fine, reversed fine, brakes worked but a little soft; drove forward fine, brakes not so soft, better with pumping... Anyway, I removed the jerry-rigged brake pedal bushing and drove it the 4 miles home with no problems, and here it sits...Now what? I will definitely get the replacement rubber bushing tomorrow, but should I take it to a brake place or just my regular garage in case there's something else wrong?

 

i would highly suggest that bro... just do a brake inspection if you are not knowleageable on brakes or dont know what you need to be looking for in the system.