I don't know if they've been posted here before, but these seemed fairly informative to me. Both were put together by the same guy (Bill Darden), so some of the information is common to both references.

How do I test a car battery?

Car Battery Frequently Asked Questions


These are offered only for informational purposes. I'm not suggesting that a big array of tests is necessary for the battery in the Escort. I agree that if that battery isn't dead by now, it ought to be.