I had this issue once - It turned out their is a factory fuseable link that feeds the iginition circuit - this is buried (i.e. taped) into the harness from the starter motor.
 
It should be that red wire in your pictures - but from memory was a thick yellow wire on the MK2 harnesses I have used. Is about 100mm into the starter motor harness in the engine bay.
 
It might be worth a quick look....

Could this be it?
 


 
 
 
 

Matt, it looks like you have finally found THE yellow wire make sure it is connected to the battery + and you should be away. That wiring looks a mess tho a lot of it is non standard and makes it more complicated than it should be, what is the relay for?? Tear it all out and make it simple as per stock escort wiring, then add extra wiring as required for your application.

You should connect both the big cable from boot and THE yellow to the starter , and piss everything else off. Put 250a fuse on battery and 60a on yellow wire to be perfectly safe. That is what i have on my escort.

Hey RS 2000,
 
Thanks for your help.  I always had the yellow wire but it is already going to the starter but.
 
I have a red wire that goes direct from the battery to a relay and from there to the starter that I am not sure if it's standard or not.
 
I have a mate who's an auto elec coming over to sort it all out and I'll tel him your sugestion as simpler is always better.
 
Cheers
 
Matt 
 
 

Hi Guys,
 
Got it sorted.  RS 2000, Paul MK1 & na.charrett; you guys were correct.
 
The yellow wire in the pictures goes into a fusable wire that had gone due to a short from the alternator wiring grounding on the body.
 
All fixed with a propper blade type fuse in place.
 
Thanks to everyone for their help and patience.
 
Broom, broom.
 
Cheers
 
Matt