1991 Ford Escort LX Will not start, no response

well it does sound like a real problem child :x i do my best to give you some insite and not saying that this is all your problem but i have run across a few fords where the neutral safty switch is tied into the radio i know it sounds freaky but unfortunately it's true. it really sounds like you have lost a main fuse link somewhere. your going to need a good test light for this one start at the starter solinoid and test each on of the wires coming from the pos side of the battey hot wire. there will be several of them and there yellow and there is a little block looking thing on the wire test both sides of that block it should light the light if it does not you need to replace it with same size fuse link but the bad side of that is you need to find the short that cause this in the first place. i know this sucks but has to be done. if you are not comfortible with doing this get a friend that knows a little about cars and wiring to help you wiring is a bitch and can be real intimidating. if you happen to short something you may have more problems fords are well know for there screwed up wiring i hve done mechanic work for about 26 years and seen a lot of different things hope this helps and let me know i have e-mail post for incoming letters .(NOS)

I took a closer look at it today and did Find the 100 amp main fuse to be blown. I replaced it and hooked up the battery and tried turning the key nothing happened, disconnected the battery cables and reconnected, the negative one started smoking, and then the fuse poped, and it was hot to the touch when it came out, so its a pretty nasty voltage draw. Also, the radio is taken out of the car, that may be the source of the draw, I'll check into it as well. Thanks for the help.