Stumped, hopefully you can help

I own a 1995 Ford Escort GT. The thing won't start. Now, this is what happens. I open the door and it does its whole dinging thing telling me the door is open. I put the key in and turn it and all electronics in the vehicle cease to work. I shut it off and try again and nothing happens at all. Open the door, no more dinging. Now, when I pull another vehicle around and hook up jumper cables, the car starts just fine. It will even run forever as long as you don't shut it off. Even if you do, it will start back up provided it has already been operating for a little bit. I don't know what the heck is wrong with it. Maybe someone can help. BTW, I just replaced the battery today.

taekt eh altenator out and take it to autozone or checker and have them check it instead of just replacing it, but I would try that first. otherwise, check the battery( I nkow you jsut replaced it) but from the negative post on the battery, follow the wire to where it meets the chassis, then take that off the chassis and sand, grind, whatever just clean it off, the cable end too. there might be a bad connection to ground.

thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it.

taekt eh altenator out and take it to autozone or checker and have them check it instead of just replacing it, but I would try that first. otherwise, check the battery( I nkow you jsut replaced it) but from the negative post on the battery, follow the wire to where it meets the chassis, then take that off the chassis and sand, grind, whatever just clean it off, the cable end too. there might be a bad connection to ground.

if your car runs and drives have a friend follow you to auto zone and just get your alt tested in your car it would save you about a hour and a headache and some knuckle skin a 1.8 alt is not like a 1.9 its under the car. or just borrow a volt meter from auto zone and do the test at your house if it test 13.8-14.5 volts your alt is good anything less replace it


otherwise if you have cheap crappy stock clamps get some heavy duty ones if your hardcore get the gold ones they are the best and then try starting it then if that dosent work test your battery it should be at 12-12.5 volts with ign off
ps when installing new clamps completley strip every wire and recrimp new connectors on to the wires do not leave old stuff on the wires it would make the swap pointless