99 Ford Escort Engine questions

Hello all. I have a question. I have a 99 ford escot with a 2.0 SOHC engine and for the last week or so it was making a tapping noise but it was intermittent. Today, I revved the motor up slightly and it started making this horrible clanking noise and then it stalled out. I tried starting it up and when it did start to run, it made the same clanking noise then it shut off. I tried to start it up and it wont even turn over. Its acting like it siezed up but Im not sure if its in the top end or the bottom end. Now I know the CVH engines are notorious for dropping valve seats but Im not sure how to diagnose it if that is what happend. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If its locked up ... there's little to do but open it up and take a look.

Unfortunately you dropped a valve seat. You will need to remove and replace the head to fix the problem. If you pull the spark plugs you may be able to tell which one cylinder it is because the electrode on the plug will probably be bent closed. I have an escort with a similar issue. I decided to send it to the wrecking yard. 205k miles!

Valve seat drop. Both head and bottom-end work are guaranteed.

New heads can be purchased. Just make sure that the valve seats have been reinforced.

Make sure that your cooling system is 100%. A compromised cooling system will only lead to a repeat at some point down the road.

Pistons, rings, rods, bearings, pins, everything can be removed with the block still in vehicle. But you will need new piston(s) and ring-set at minimal. Any damage to the sidewalls (more unusual) and the block will need to go to a machine shop.

The entire EGR system, intake manifold, air-intake system, will need to be thoroughly cleaned of all debris. Any debris makes it back into the engine and you're screwed, again.

You can isolate the problem area pretty easily too.

Remove the timing belt, then try to turn the crank with a ratchet.
You can also try turning the camshaft with a ratchet.

That can pretty easily help you narrow down which half is locked up.


You can also pull the valve cover ( 3 easy 10mm bolts ).
If one of the valves is bent, broken or jammed you'll probably be able to see it there by inspecting the valve tails.

Look for a valve tail that doesn't come all the way up when it should.
You might see on that is bent or cracked. Who knows... you might even find one missing :-P

Hello all. I have a question. I have a 99 ford escot with a 2.0 SOHC engine and for the last week or so it was making a tapping noise but it was intermittent. Today, I revved the motor up slightly and it started making this horrible clanking noise and then it stalled out. I tried starting it up and when it did start to run, it made the same clanking noise then it shut off. I tried to start it up and it wont even turn over. Its acting like it siezed up but Im not sure if its in the top end or the bottom end. Now I know the CVH engines are notorious for dropping valve seats but Im not sure how to diagnose it if that is what happend. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
this is gona sound dumb but my daughter had about the same exp .I dint have time to check it out my self but it was an escort "(99)" she sold it for nothing come to find out from the guy that bought it for body parts, when he went to pull the motor the starter nose had broken off and lodged between the flywheel and bell housing making it seem like a major thing he felt sorry for my daughter and sold her back the car for a $100 dollars more then he bought it including the new starter

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing Rusty. :)