Welcome onboard.
Bottom line - seems to be wp failure, common on v6; plastic impeller disentegrates. Both mine failed in May.
A/C problems may or may not be related. PCM (powertrain control module) shuts off a/c at high engine temperatures. Max a/c vs a/c position only changes air flow, max shuts off ouside air intake thereby recirculating cabin air.
You seem to have driven some distance with temp in red, which is bad, but you never seemed to have boiled dry, which is good. Driving overheating engine can cause head/head gasket/bearing problems - Big $$$. Hopefully the bits you saw were crud or wp impeller bits and not head gasket material.
Good luck and keep us posted on outcome/estimate.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 110,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 125,000km
stock CD on LS, cass on LX
spoiler, tinted windows on LS only
4 wheel discs on LX only
All other available options on both
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