1997 Mercury Tracer: check engine light

Filed Nov 19, 2003 · Airbags · GA

Problems with air bag monitor on 1997 mercury tracer.*mr the consumer stated an ammonia type smell began to emit from the vehicle, soon after, there was a burnt plastic odor also emitting from the vehicle and moments later the air bag and check engine lights illuminated on the dashboard and finally the vehicle ceased to continue functioning while the vehicle became smoky. The vehicle was towed to a dealership where the consumer was informed there was a recall on the air bag sensor/control module, recall #02v323000. *jb

Filed Sep 23, 2003 · Airbags · 102,000 miles · GA · fire

Driving on I-20 eastbound. Smelled ammonia, then smelled burnt plastic, airbag light illuminated, check engine light illuminated, interior light flickered off and on, car began to decrease speed despite pressing on the gas pedal. Was able to get car into the emergency lane before it completely stopped moving. Hole burnt into passenger area from underneath dash area. Defrost area warped and burnt, bottom of windshield (glass part) burnt.

Filed Aug 8, 2003 · Engine · VA

My girlfriend owns a 1997 mercury tracer. At the time of the incident the car had been driven for approximately 110,000 miles. Here engine light came on and we had a diagnostic analysis conducted on the car. The analysis said there was a misfire in the 4th cylinder and before we could change the spark plugs the car was no longer driveable. It turns out that mercury makes a piece of junk car and that the valve seats were manufactured with a powdered metal. It appears that the valve seat cracked and dropped into the cylinder resulting in the piston hammering down into that cylinder and destroying the engine. This car was only six years old and was kept in excellent condition but thanks to the incompetent craftmanship of the people at mercury my girlfriend was extremely inconvenienced (temporally and most of all financially) due to the cheapness of the engine. It is safe to say that we will never purchase another car manufactured by the ford company. Foreign all the way. Thank you. Salmaan toor

Filed May 16, 2003 · Engine · CA

While driving the engine light illuminated and there was a sudden clunky noise. It was later determined that the engine burned out.

Filed Jan 30, 2003 · Engine · MD

I began having engine trouble last july. Whjen I turned the ingnition the engine began to buckle and make a loud noise. I would have to attempt starting it a few times to get a clean start. Then the engine would make a tapping noise and the engine light would come on. I took it to the dealer - they said it was a dirty cylinder and that it needed to be cleaned. They cleaned it but a few months later the same string of events occurred -- but the engine light went off before I could get it to the dealer. The dealer took the car anyway -- they kept it for almost 3 weeks and the car would not "act up" for them. They re-sealed some wires and gave it back to me because they couldn't find anything wrong with the engine. Well, needless to say the car kept having trouble starting and the engine light kept coming on and and going off by itself. I became fed up -- so I took it to precision tune instead of the dealer. They told me the wires that were sealed actually needed to be replaced and that's what the problem was. I paid them $318 to do it. I picked up my car -- and drove to work -- and what do you know -- the engine light came back on again and I had trouble starting it. I took it back to the shop -- I turned the car off and turned it back on for the mechanic and the car made a hidious sound and died right there in front of us. Apparently one of the cylinders stopped working and something was loose in the engine is what I was told. Now I have another car -- it wasn't worth fixing. I also had a coolant issue with the car -- I had to replace the radiator. That wasn't fun either.

Filed Nov 27, 1998 · Engine, Seat belts · LA · crash · 1 injury

Steering, shimmering like the front end was out of line, service engine soon light came on and went off 2 times third time went to dixie and set up to have it check since the light stayed on this time and did not go back off. Seatbelt, will not latch at times I have to keep trying to press in the release button for it to finally lock. At times would come off while driving. Dixie set up an appointment 1 week after I went there to have all of the above checked.date dixie motors looked at car july 24,1998. Keeped car about 7 hrs. Told me they cleaned seatbelt, did not tell me what was wrong with sterring and the only thing fixed was service engine light. On july 30,1998 3 days after bringing my car in to be fix the steering grab to right coming out of curve and seatbelt came off when the car hit a pole. Injuring my arm,neck and lower back. All have healed except my arm. Call a ford repersentive they had the claim divions call me. I went to brumfield ford in amite since I do not trust the dixie motor. Mr raff called dixie motors last week they told him I have never brought my car in to be service. I showed mr. Raff the workorder paper 42094 customer#35145, he did not understand why they said I did not bring the car there. I do not know what to do anymore, I have a new car I'm afraid to drive please help. Thank you janelle negrotto( dot number: ap7jjkuu tire size: p185/65r14 )