What happened with me was, my car had a Remote Start system installed. It did not give any problem for several months. But, one day, when I tried to start the car manually using a key, the lights on the dashboard would come and go away in 2 seconds and any attempt to start the car by key would have no effect on car: no lights on dashboard, no engine sound, no clicking sound from Engine Starter. It would not start with Remote Start. Also, all the electrical system in the car would stop working. Workshop guy told me that the remote start circuit was wrongly installed and also remote start unit had some issues. I got the whole Remote Start system removed and things are fine since then.
replace ignition switch
I don't own a 95 ford escort. But if I did, and the motor turned over but would not start, I'd look at either the ignition module or fuel pump first.
Ignition or ignition switch could be bad or the selanoid could have went out
moisture on the ignition coils.spray them with silicon spray.
I had the same problem. I had been using a very poor battery that was almost flat all of the time. All battery connections turned out to be in good order, worried about the engine begining to seize up hbut found it turned freely by hand. the problem turned out to be the starter motor that had broken down due to constant use of a poor battery condition. Please check your battery condition, connections, that engine turns freely and your starter motor. A lot of garages do a start and charge check very cheaply.
The radio time would stay on if you had the keys in the ignition but the ignition was only turned halfway.
There is a short somewhere in the ignition system causing the fuse to burn out. Start by replacing the ignition switch to see if that helps.
replace ignition switch
I had a similar problem on a Ford truck and it turned out to be the ignition switch. The truck would start just fine but when I released the ignition key the truck would die. I replaced the switch and problem was gone.
The ticking noise is the metal cooling.
You may have activated security system if theft light flashing when key is turned, needs reset.
It sounds like your ignition timing timing is too far advanced. It will need resetting.
Headlights run off the battery not the ignition...
I own a 95 GMC and had similar troubles - It turned out to be the ignition switch was bad.
I had a 96 Stratus that would do that, and it turned out to be that the starter was bad.
I'm not a gambling man but I would risk a shilling that the radiator fan is running Peugeot fans are not ignition controlled, and do start at times after the engine is switched off.
Probably ignition switch. Have it checked out.