your shift interlock is broken. Use a paperclip or screw driver to by pass it. Its that circle by the side of the gearshift. pry it up and press it down with either the screwdriver or paper clip
On a 1997 Mercury Tracer : The AUTOMATIC transmission fluid dipstick would be on the side of the transmission ( transaxle ) in the area of the brake fluid reservoir . The manual transmission ( transaxle ) does not have a dipstick
For a 1999 Mercury Tracer ( in North America ) ( DOT 3 brake fluid meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A )
On a 2001 Mercury Sable : The automatic transaxle ( transmission ) fluid level dipstick is near the firewall , in the area of the brake fluid reservoir , in the engine compartment
the brake light switch is just above the brake pedal. I just bought one for my own 97 tracer yesturday and need to install it.
On a ( 1996 ) Mercury Tracer : The brake fluid reservoir also is the clutch fluid reservoir and it takes : ( DOT 3 brake fluid meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A )
No
According to the ( 1996 ) Mercury Tracer Owner Guide : ( the brake fluid reservoir is also the hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir )
Check the shift unlock solenoid. The solenoid is known to go bad and cause this issue in a tracer.
If it is just ( 1 ) lower brake light that is not working it is probably the bulb
Check the brake fluid level in your brake master cylinder in the engine compartment ( the brake light also comes on if the parking / emergency brake is applied )
Check bulbs Check Fuse Check stop light switch
On my 1999 Mercury Tracer, the fuel filter is mounted on the firewall. It's on the driver-side, on the passenger-side of the brake cylinder. I don't know how to get my hands in to change it though. Jonathon