another '93 Escort that won't turn over

I just found this site and can't believe how many others have had problems with their Escorts not turning over.
I bought it last week so I don't know a lot about it
5ive speed 144K miles
The lights,fan,raido come on but the battery looked old and crusty, I cleaned it up...somewhere here I read about a 'sellanoid' sp relay switch?
I couldn't find it
I noticed the safety switch on the clutch? do they ever go bad?
I only think I can see the starter???
Is this something that is going to take a real machanic?
I can"t even tell if the starter would come out from the bottom?
Anyone know a good escort book? :uhoh:

try this to see if its the starter, take a hammer and hit the starter hard a few times. im not joking... if its the starter theres a very good chance that will work, it only works a few times, if it works then u need to get ur starter replaced still because it will only work a few times.

well I bought the chilton book and now I can't tell what the problem could be????
"remove air cleaner to intake manifold tube" will I need to buy a new gasket?
does the solenoid come on a new rebuilt starter?
the + battery cable looks worn? do I need a 'ford' cable or will a universal one 'work'?
can this car be" pluged in" at a dealer to find the problem?
could I push start it?
when the 'check engine' light came on... could that mean the alternator wasn't making enough juice?
I have a bad feeling this car has poly problems
how can I find the weak link with out going broke?
thanks :uhoh:

jsut try what i said its free, its an old trick. if it doesnt work then thats probably not the problem. worth a try

happy ending! thanks to this forum I learned from everyone and solved the problem !
I thought I was lookin at $300+ for a new starter.... then I started reading all the good Ideas and ways to test this 'n' that and it turns out the alterntor is making too much juice so it cooked the battery, then I read some where here that the key could be key ...so I 'jumped the starter and it spun so I knew it was good, got a new battery and a button, and mitchel moused a wire from the battey to the button to the starter and vrooum! for $ fifty bucks!
so I guess my next question would me ... can I cure that problem with a new voltage regulator? or with an alternator too?
:uhoh: