1997 escort weird electrical problem will not start

[badmonte]

got in the car and went to start and no power so i bought a new battery. now i'm out $50.00 as soon as i hooked up the terminals the fan started running and the starter soleniod clicked so i looked in and seen all the dash lights on and this is with no keys in the ignition ????? WTF so next i removed the auto start and bulldog security box and now all i get is a click from the starter when attempting to start. and while trying to start the auto locks go up and down and when you open the passenger door the ignition beeps as if their wher keys in the ignition but their isn't

[Davescort97]

Originally Posted by badmonte

got in the car and went to start and no power so i bought a new battery. now i'm out $50.00 as soon as i hooked up the terminals the fan started running and the starter soleniod clicked so i looked in and seen all the dash lights on and this is with no keys in the ignition ????? WTF so next i removed the auto start and bulldog security box and now all i get is a click from the starter when attempting to start. and while trying to start the auto locks go up and down and when you open the passenger door the ignition beeps as if their wher keys in the ignition but their isn't

Heater blower fan or radiator fan? Do have an automatic or standard shift? After removing the auto start did the dash light still come on without the key in the ignition? I think part of the problem is in the remote start and anti-theft system. Any loose wires? Either it isn't disconnected or you need a new starter. If the starter clicked before you bought a new battery you could need a new starter.

[slowhandjim]

My 98 Ford Escort ZX2 has a starting problem every now and then. All the dash lights come on and the headlights work but it won't start when I turn the ignition on. Checked the fuses, reset the fuel pump switch (in the trunk, and moved it through gears and tried to start it in neutral and in park but nothing worked. However, when I disonnected the battery for a few minutes, the car started once the cables were re-connected. Might have been a coincidence but I suspect that it re-set whatever was preventing the car from starting.
I suspect the after-market alarms system was the cause. I bought the car at an auction a few weeks ago and the only paperwork that came with it is the pink-slip. I would like to disable the alarm system permanently, but I'm not sure how to go about it or who installed it.

[missatellite]

maybe a bad ground somewhere