'89 Mercury Tracer Manual

[jonastio]

I hate taking my car to any auto mechanic. I can do it all myself, dagummit.
The only problem is that I can't find a singe frickin manual on how to do it. My parts guy doesn't even have part numbers for the strut suspension.
My biggest problem right now is that my horn doesn't work and just last night after installing a new radio, the dash lights and the tail lights (for night driving, brake lights still work) aren't working. It's just blowing right through the fuses, and when I tried to bypass the fuse, smoke came out from under the dash. I need wiring diagrams and whatnot to be able to figure out what the heck is going on. I just bought the car a week ago and I already love the peppy little thing.
Any assistance would automatically put you on my list of coolest people in the world.
I know that it's got the same engine as same year Mazda 323, but is that where the similarities cease?
And to hell with both Haynes and Chilton for not providing me with a frickin manual!

[4AFE Fan]

When you put in the radio, did you cut the harness or buy the adapter harness? It sounds like this may be the root cause of the problem. First, unplug the radio and wires and see if the fuses still blow. Bad news is that you may have melted some harness wires under the dash and created a short circuit. the harnesses are the same between the 323 and the Tracer. If you can lay hands on a Mazda 323 Shop manual (dealer manual, Chiltons and Haynes are useless) you will get everything you ever needed to know about the Tracer. They are good cars and their only weak point is the front wheel bearings, they are a PAIN to set properly. Drop me a reply if I can be of service.

[mjohn]

Originally Posted by 4AFE Fan

When you put in the radio, did you cut the harness or buy the adapter harness? It sounds like this may be the root cause of the problem. First, unplug the radio and wires and see if the fuses still blow. Bad news is that you may have melted some harness wires under the dash and created a short circuit. the harnesses are the same between the 323 and the Tracer. If you can lay hands on a Mazda 323 Shop manual (dealer manual, Chiltons and Haynes are useless) you will get everything you ever needed to know about the Tracer. They are good cars and their only weak point is the front wheel bearings, they are a PAIN to set properly. Drop me a reply if I can be of service.

Dear Fan:
1991 Tracer with manual trans. with about 180,000
Runs strong but when I was taking a clover leaf too fast the front end suspension seemed to make noise.

It was not like CV Joint but a friend and I looked at the play in the front wheel...when We pull-push on top of tire...the right side seems to have some play...He asked if I had packed the wheel bearings? I said no

I am just concerned that the ball joints/tie rods are not going.
As I want to be safe above all else...

Thanks. :o)