97 escort wont start

I have a 97 escort and I went out to start it today. It turned over and I let off ignition too soon, then turned key again to start too soon. It gave a little grind then nothing. Service engine soon light started blinking and car wouldnt start. I have no dome light at all and engine gives a clicking sound every once in awhile. Connections are good to battery. Also gas guage is pegged to the right all the way down.

Any suggestions?

Welcome to AF!!

Sounds like a dead or completely discharged battery. Check all connections and then check the battery voltage with a meter. If you have less than 11 volts the battery is probably gone.

Thanks for the Welcome!

All connections are good and the battery voltage is 12.6

Check the 100 amp fuse in the engine compartment next to the battery. The battery could have volts Without any amperage. Note the reading on the volt meter as the engine is being cranked. Should be around 9.5 volts. If you get it started the alternator should charge the battery at 13.7 to 14.3 volts.

If your gas gauge has pegged to the right - and the tank wasnt full - I would suspect a bad ground connection somewhere. There are several grounds in an Escort, though the heavy one is most important. I rerouted the fat ground wire on ours to run to one of the 3 bolts that holds the starter onto the bell housing. And when I recently installed the a rebuilt starter, I cleaned the mounting surfaces on the bell housing, and on the starter.
Another 'connection' in the route from battery through main fuse to ignition switch to the starter is the neutral'safety switch. On my 92 its on the top of the tranny where the shifter shaft emerges. Our Escort has 200k miles on it, and I hope that switch is reliable - since a new one is well over $200. !

It was a bad ground on the frame.



Thanks a ton guys