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
Ignition or ignition switch could be bad or the selanoid could have went out
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.
moisture on the ignition coils.spray them with silicon spray.
it is a fuse that protects the ignition relay from too much current. a bad fuse would cause a no start, and if you pull the fuse, its center core will be burnt out if it is bad.
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.
You may have activated security system if theft light flashing when key is turned, needs reset.
The ticking noise is the metal cooling.
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.