99 escort speedometer dead

http://www.autofuseboxdiagram.com/7772-1997-ford-escort-under-hood-fuse-box-diagram/

and

http://www.autofuseboxdiagram.com/19689-1997-ford-escort-lx-4-door-fuse-box-diagram/

hello Sylvia i think you have had your dash board taken out at some
stage previous to your owning it, there is a big electrical connector
that hooks up to the printed circuit board behind your dash. you will
need to get a techy to pull off the plastic masks around your dash
and unscrew the speedo console. we used to get alot of this fault
here in New Zealand when sellers of vehicles were clocking the
speedo's to show a lower mileage reading on the odometer, very
nasty.
cheers bucky

it is very common for the VSS to fail on the escorts of that vintage. the VSS sensor is located on the top side of transmsision near the fire wall. it is accessed from under vehicle while on lift, near center of vehciel, there will be a few wires going to it. this sensor has a tendancy to rot into the transmsison based on you geographical location (rust belt??) it can be very difficult to remove it from the transmssio n..they usually break when they do come out (if you live is a rusty area)

My brothers 2000 ford ranger the fuse went out to the speed sensor. I change the speed sensor because it did not shift out of 1st gear and the speedometer stopped working. I then found out the fuse was missing in the fuse panel. My brother could not tell where the fuse went but when I put a fuse in it started shifting and the speedometer started working. everything was good. You should have a code if it is the speed sensor.

if you probe wire with 12volt test light clip on light to bodyprob wires when light goes on that wire is positive if no light comes on turn car key to on

On this website, you find fuse box diagram and description for Ford Escort (1992)

Ford Escort mk2 Second Generation 1990 1996 fuse box diagram USA version...

its sounds like the speedo cable has snapped.

it could be a chaffed wire on the fire wall and also still could be the alternator unless it was brand new i would have it checked personally. then start check the accuator for the needle its self

check the fuse for the speedo, (fuse #35 interior fuse box) if it is ok the electronic speedo will need repair, this is a common problem since Ford went to electronic speedometers.

i HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, TRY PUTING THE DEAD BATTERY BACK ON AND TRY TURNING IT OVER THE GAUGES MIGHT FLIP BACK AROUND