# 99 Mercury Trace Tail lights won't turn off

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercury-trace-tail-lights-wont-turn-off/37691>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mercury, tracer\
**Created:** [October 6, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercury-trace-tail-lights-wont-turn-off/37691 "2009-10-06T16:05:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bhaslam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/54ee81/32.png) [@bhaslam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bhaslam)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercury-trace-tail-lights-wont-turn-off/37691/1 "2009-10-06T16:05:54Z")

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Hi, I have a 99 Mercury Tracer and the tail lights never turn off. I have to take out the brake light fuse when I am parked or else they stay on all the time. I have forgotten this twice and the battery died. While I am driving it looks like I have my foot on the brake the entire time. I know this is dangerous so I’ve stopped driving the car. Can I fix this myself? I would like to start driving again. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercury-trace-tail-lights-wont-turn-off/37691/2 "2009-10-06T16:34:07Z")

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Can You Replace Or Adjust A Brake Light Switch? I’d Check That, First.  
CSA

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**Author:** ![fordx4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@fordx4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fordx4)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercury-trace-tail-lights-wont-turn-off/37691/3 "2009-10-06T17:18:24Z")

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My '98 Escort (same vehicle) had the same problem. In my case, a small plastic spacer between the brake pedal and the brake light switch broke off. The plastic becomes brittle with age. I replaced it with some hardened bubble gum that I happened to have with me and that lasted 6 months. Check it out by looking at the brake pedal. It’s easy to see what’s going on. There are an endless number of things that will replace that piece of plastic.