electrical problems in my escort 1.8d van 1994

[upandatem]

My electrics have gone crazy. The van starts and runs ok but the electrics seem to come and go at random. If when they decide to work I have the radio on and then switch on anything else the radio needs recoding or every thing else goes off. Sometimes I can turn off and remove the ignition key but the van is still running and I have to stall it to cut the engine. Can anybody save me from going completely round the bend probably in the dark.

 

[^neo^]

Have a look to see if it has an ignition control relay. It'll be the one that clicks when you first turn the ignition on. I'd suspect that to be the culprit.
Failing that, could well just be the ignition switch

 

[upandatem]

Cheers for the help Neo I am also told by the man at the shop where I brought the new battery that there may be a loose earth connection and he may be right since the earth to the chassis although never been touched by me in the four years I have had the van seems to have a bit of movement in it, going to try to tighten that up and see what happens . Once again cheers for the input