I bought a 93 escort wagon for 300 bucks today. It had a broken ignition switch that someone had tried to fix, but did a terrible job. It was like it was permanently stuck in the "start" position because the starter would engage every time I pressed the clutch in. The battery was dead too. I managed to get it started by jumping it and pressing the clutch in. I tried to shift into 1st and take off, but the starter would engage and i'd get that terrible grinding sound. I shut it off and had it towed to my house where I have a 95 escort for parts.

I took the ignition switch of the 95 and put it on the 93. By the way, I am not using the key, I am just using the switch and a screwdriver. The car will crank, but it wont start now. The fuel cutout light comes on when I try to start it. This didnt happen in my 95, so I don't know if it is a symptom. I check the Timing belt and it seems ok. I changed the battery too, and it still wont start. The inertia switch is pressed in, I hear a whirring sound when I turn the car to "Run", so I guess the fuel pump is ok. I am out of ideas as to why it wont start. Anyone have any ideas on what I could try next?

Maybe try using the key? You might not be making all the connections with the screwdriver.
The cutout light is supposed to come on. It will turn off when the engine starts.

IMaybe the 95 ignition switch is not wired the same as the 93?

Maybe try using the key? You might not be making all the connections with the screwdriver.
The cutout light is supposed to come on. It will turn off when the engine starts.

IMaybe the 95 ignition switch is not wired the same as the 93?

Can't use the key or I'll have to take off 2 steering wheels and 2 complete ignition switch mechanisms i'd also have to buy new bolts to put it on.

It didn't start with the old ignition switch but that one time before I had it towed to my house. I am baffled. Gonna try all the fuses today.

I checked the fuses, they all seem to be fine. I sprayed some starter fluid into the intake and it sputtered a bit, but did not start. This is leading me to believe that it's a fuel issue. I checked the relay and even replaced it with a known working one, no start. How do I check the fuel pump?

Fuel pump was working fine. I was stumped again. In a last ditch effort, I grabbed the Fuel Injection fuse off my parts car and stuck it in this one (even though it was visually fine). The car started right up like a champ. I drove it about 10 miles and it runs great and the clutch is much better than the one in the parts car. I did notice that I'm gonna need to replace the driver side front axle though. There are a few other things wrong with it electrically, but I'll start a new thread for those.

Funny how many ignitions have been replaced or fiddled with over a worn or bad key...

Folks should keep unused or never used spares and have copies made whenever problems start to arise. Speak from experience...