95 1.9L Escort engine noise

My 95 1.9L Escort has been making this noise for the last 20k miles or so. Car has 111k miles on it. It seems to be slowly getting a little more noticeable. It's mainly when you step on the gas and the engine is under a light load. Sounds like a light metallic hollow sound, almost like if a woodpecker sound. Sounds like it is something valve related but I'm not sure.

Any ideas what could cause this? Any chance it could be the valve seat starting to work its way loose? I've replaced #4 lifter 35k ago as it was making screeching noise.

Thanks.

Yes, I'd be concerned about the valve seat dropping. Knowing what I know now, I'd go ahead and remove head for a re-build.

Yes, I'd be concerned about the valve seat dropping. Knowing what I know now, I'd go ahead and remove head for a re-build.

Are you one of the folks who had the valve seat drop? Was it a 1.9L and what year, how much mileage?

Did it make any noise or anything that could have been a warning sign, or did it just happen?

Thanks for the info....

My experience was with a '97 with a 2.0, but have been told that some (not as many) 1.9's had valve inserts to drop.

There was some precursor events. Noisy running periods... then periods of quiet perfect running .... before the final lock-up.

Mine is a 1.9 and dropped somewhere around 160k.

See if you can isolate the sound and determine if it is coming from the head or possible from an injector. My injectors are a bit noiseier than they used to be... it could be one of them.

Thanks guys. I'm going to see if I can identify the source of the noise any better. I don't like the thought of replacing the cyl head right now with the weather we have been getting, especially since this is my only vehicle.

I have the same noise coming from my engine. its a 94 1.9 and from what i've been told, its either a lifter or a rocker. i'm no gear head, but i know a chap who is, and he's the one that told me! he also said to check if the noise sounds quieter when theres an oil change, as that could differentiate between rocker/lifter. i assume that makes sense to someone here?