According to the 2000 Ford Escort Owner Guide :
For the 2.0 liter , DOHC , Zetec engine :
( Motorcraft BXT-58 )
* that's BCI group size 58
A ( 1981 ) Ford Escort takes a BCI group size ( 58 ) battery
BCI group size ( 58 ) according to fordparts.com
either alternator or wrong size battery
According to the 1998 Ford Escort Owner Guide : The 2.0 liter , DOHC , Zetec engine came with the ( Motorcraft BXT-58 battery ) * that's BCI group size 58
Motorcraft ( BXT-58 ) according to the 1999 Ford Escort Owner Guide ( that's BCI group size 58 )
As far as I know the 2000 Ford Escort sedan has a SOHC engine rated at ( 114 horsepower ) and the Ford Escort ZX2 has a DOHC - Zetec engine rated at ( 130 horsepower ) * both engines are 2.0 liters in size *
In a 2000 Ford Escort ( for North America ) It has a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine * either the Dual Over Head Cam or the Single Over Head Cam version
Either 185/65/14 or 185/60/15
For a 1995 Ford Escort GT ( 1.8 litre four cylinder engine ) ( BCI group size 35 ) * such as the Motorcraft BXT-35 , Fords " top of the line " battery
According to the 1999 Ford Escort Owner Guide : Both the 2.0 liter SOHC engine and the 2.0 liter DOHC , Zetec engine came with the ( Motorcraft BXT-58 battery ) ( that's BCI group size 58 )
You Need a 35 Series BatteryThe best answer I can offer is that you need a battery that is a 35 series. They vary from brand to brand such as in Wal-Mart, the brand "EverLife" requires size 35-3S. At CarQuest, it is a 35-84 battery is the size you need. Everything I read says that it works for both a '91 and a '92 Ford Escort (all types).
Any battery that fits that has at least 500 CCA. The more CCA the better especially in a cold climate.