If the lights on the esc don't come on does this mean its bad? Also how to tell if the receiver is bad.

Check to see of it still runs a motor, but if they don't come on then then probably it's dead. With te receiver if it doesn't pick up a signal or connect with the radio... And it's compatible, then it's dead.

Best to just try it.

With afresh battery the esc light comes on and the motor runs but no steering then every thing goes dead, Then the esc light won't come back on.

What esc, motor and battery are you using?

Make sure all the plugs are plugged into the correct channels!

If it's a 2.4ghz radio then rebind the receiver then recalibrate the esc to the radio