ford escort zx2 dead will not turn over

starter will not turn? battery may be gone, try charging it. It may have gone dead because that alternator when out. If you charge the battery and start your car, unhook the negetive cable from the battery. Your car should stay running. If it didnt your alternator is bad. Sometime if a battery goes completly dead it cant be charged.

Do NOT disconnect your batter while the car is running! This old school method was fine with generators and early alternators with external regulators but it can and eventually will kill your expensive (and hard to change in this chassis) alternator due to the massive voltage spike created when the path is broken. Instead, try jumping it to get it started and take to Auto Zone, or Advance and they will test your battery, starter and alternator at no cost. If it won't start, they can also bench test the indivudual components as well. First and foremost, make sure your battery connections are clean and tight. Also set the transmission in neutral and see if it starts. Neutral safety switch could be the culprit. Good Luck!