maybe you have a problem with the ignition switch?

That's one of the things I am starting to suspect.

How can you bypass the switch to confirm if it works or not?

Matt

Just run 12v straight off the fuse box. Do you see 12v both sides with the points closed?

12v to the + side of the coil you mean from the fuse box? 
 
I was getting 12v but just checked then and now I get 6 to 7 v to the "+" and about .3v to  "-".
 
Matt
 
 
 
 

you'll probably find you get 12v back when the points are open. this means you have a dirty connector between the 12v souce and the coil. with the points closed and seeing 6v at the coil, check the voltage either side of those dodgy fuses on the firewall. im assuming the ignition is fed from 1 of them and you will see 12v on the battery side and 6v on the other side of the fuse which feeds the ignition. damn mr ford was good, just took the cover off my box and it aint labelled. maybe a manual will id the ignition fuse...

Cheers,
 
Will have a crack tomorrow.
 
Could a stuffed condensor also be the culprit?
 
Matt

does an escort run a ballast resistor, usually a block mounted to the side of the coil. my car runs coil packs off the ecu & the rs2000 has electonic ignition so i dont know what std looks like.

Yes it does.  I checked the resistance on that and it seems fine.
 
Matt

wouldnt be the condensor in the dissy. again you can disconnect this for testing. you could have a condensor/capacitor/radio supressor (depends what you call it)hanging off the coil. you can disconnect this too. moneys on the fuse isnt making a good connection or a corroded connector in the ignition bay if there is one  stacks with failed after washing.

Thanks for your help.  
 
I'll have a look tomorrow
 
Matt