l had a Mercury Tracer LS. l loved that car! (had to sell).
Anyway, we were driving along one day going to dinner with friends when all of a sudden it died on us. (then roads closed from dust storm.) Anyway, we have talked to dozens of mechanics and each came up with a different answer but none were right. It just would not start. It made a whirring noise but nothing would happen. Even though l do not own it anymore, l would still like to know what was wrong. Is there a mechanic or someone out there who could possibly know what is the matter with my car??? (old car that is.) My dad knows the guy who bought it, so maybe if someone knows l could tell him so he can get it fixed.
Thank you to anyone who might know what it could possibly be. Also, the check engine light was always on but no one knew what it could be and the resavoir (sp?) had a leak and l could not keep antifreeze/ water in it. Think maybe it got overheated??????
This is the greatest mystery l have ever heard of in cars..

timing belt maybe. need more info on this one Hun!

Sounds like starter was turning engine over but no spark. Fuse? Coil? Distributor? This is a late model so maybe the computer? It might be an easy problem to fix, you'd just have to run down the list of potentials until you find it. l think if you overheated it the engine would have seized and thus it would not turn over at all.

If it just makes a whining noise,when u try to start it,high possibility the timing belt sheered the cogs,or teeth.If the engine spun real fast when trying to start it,that is the sound of no compression,valves stop moving up & down,easy to diagnose,take off distributor cap,and watch rotor,if it does not spin or spins erratically,timing belt.The other possibility would be blow head gasket,from over heating.This is a close interference engine which means the valves will bend if the belt goes.Either way,trying to get a good used head is hard.That engine had a bad reputation for cracking heads when to hot.