Electrical Problem, where to start???

My second car is a 1993 Ford Escort, that I owned since High School. Had the motor and clutch replaced a few years ago and it was running great, I sold it to a friend who litterally trashed it. I ended up buying it back, because it wouldn't start, and got it for real cheap. Put a new battery in it, and one of the main fuses underneath the hood was burnt up. Replaced that and everything seemed to be going good. Even though I didnt really put it back on the road yet it still seemed to be charging ok, other then a slow battery drainage. Well I went to start the car up one day, and noticed the charging system light came on, then next thing i know the fuel gauge went flew off the F mark, 8oO! Then I smelled the smoke.... so I turned it off. I figured the alternator burnt up possibly spiking the voltage or what not. So I replaced the alternator, turned it on, smell smoke again comiing from the guage cluster, alternator went out again??? It was a used alt. but I did have it checked and it was ok before I put it in. So now I have pulled the guage cluster, and the wiring harness going into the cluster was basically fried, melted together, etc, and what not. I just don't know where to go from here, I suspect this cluster harness is part of the main wiring harness. Could this short I have be the problem of my voltage leak and blowing alternators? Am I missing something here? If after I replace the wiring harness and alternator will this little fire happen again? Any input would be greatly apreciated, and sorry for the long post!

Back in 95 Ford had a recall to install a jumper harness and fuse at the fuel sending unit under the rear seat. It sounds like the recall was never done on your car. Check under the rear seat inside the car. there is suppose to be a small harness about 1 foot long installed between the sending unit connector and main harness. In that harness is an inline fuse. If this fused harness is missing and the fuel pump looses it's ground, the pump will ground through the main harness which overloads it, causing melted wires in the harness so severe it takes out lots of other wires in the process. If this is the cause, the car basically has to be stripped and rewired which is a major job. probably takes an experienced tech 15-25 hours-- costly!. Also if this is the cause, you can try Ford on ,but I don't know how succesful you will be. Old Recall.
Good Luck !

I have a 97 ford escort , and i have a problem with my battery draining. i have put a new battery and altenater in the car and it runs fine . but when you let it sit for a couple of hours i can't start it. my battery is drained. i don't know where to start. can someone help me.