What is wrong with my 1996 Ford Escort 1.3?

When I am driving the electrics simply conk out. Engine, lights, wipers, everything. It starts perfectly and runs smoothly for about 12 miles before this happens. I bought a new potentiometer but that didn't cure the problem. Any advice?

Answers:
You more than likely need a new battery. But before you do that. Start up your car and take it to an auto parts store closer than 12 miles from your house and have them check the charging system.. It's free. They'll tell you if it the battery or the alternator, Or voltage regulator. When all that stuff goes out is the car still running and drivable? Or does it die?
Buy a new car!!
could be the alternator
Check the connection (live and ground) to your battery. Overtime, the connectors loosen or corrode and contact is sporadic. If they're loose, tighten them up. If they're corroded, clean them (get battery contact cleaner from your local autoparts store)..
Sounds like battery terminals to me, we had a citroen that did the same. It had (why, I'll never know) round terminals that slipped on OVER the square ones, and the connection was lousy !
I had this problem with my ford fiesta and it was a faulty battery not sending charge to the alternator

Get an auto electrician to check the current to the alternator to see if its holding charge if it is it will probably be a new battery you need.

While you are there get them to check the ECU (engine management system) as a fault in this unit could also cause the problems you describe
The entire fuse box was weak on Escorts of that era. Many Escorts will have had their fuse boxes replaced owing to electrical gremlins that can appear and disappear without warning. The heater blower and lights are generall the first to suffer, and from then on, the situation gets worse. There are even incidences of Escorts being parked, and the headlights turning themselves on owing to the electrical connections in the fuse box shorting out.

This may be the problem, and warrants further investigation.
easy the problen is that you have a 96 escort

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