Need Help ASAP

[reds812000]

i have a 95 escort 1.9 5 speed... i started it up today and there was a noise like a machine gun going off.I took the oil pan off there is no metal or broken parts in the pan and everything is connected, then i took the valve cover off and the rocker arms and everything is connected.SO now im starting to wonder if it is something in the transmission....Can somebody please help me out

[AzTumbleweed]

If the sound goes away when you push in the clutch pedal then it's in the transmission. Everything quits moving in the tranny when the clutch is pushed in and car is not moving.

[reds812000]

it does it when the car is in neutral but i didnt run the car long because it sounds badd

[reds812000]

what else could i do to check it out

[mightymoose_22]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but what you are describing sounds like the classic dropped valve seat.

First, I suggest you stop running the motor until the problem is fixed.

Second... the head needs to come off. When it comes off you are sure to find that small bits of metal are stuck to the tops of the pistons and are gouging the bottom side of the head (your machine gun). Over time, in these engines, the valve seats work themselves loose and fall into the combustion chamber. As the motor continues to run it smashes the valve seat into itty bits and causes some terrible damage. The last time you parked the car, once the engine cooled down , the valve seat contracted and dropped out of place. There is no way for you to know that it had happened.

Depending on the extent of damage you may need new pistons, and very possibly a new head.

You are looking at expensive repairs, and if you do it yourself it will be slightly less expensive, but still expensive and time consuming.

If you do get the car repaired, be certain that whoever does it takes the time to thoroughly clean out the intake plenum as bits of metal are surely sucked up into there. You don't want to do all the repairs, put it back together, and have the same problem as those bits of metal get sucked right back into the engine.

I've danced this dance a couple times... it is super frustrating. Again, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I am 99% certain this is what you are facing.

A search of this forum for "valve seats" will likely turn up a wealth of info on the subject.

Bummer, dude

[reds812000]

so would it be easier to just drop a new motor in?

[mightymoose_22]

Easier? Maybe. Not necessary though. A new motor would be more expensive too.
Hopefully you can prove me wrong and it will be something else.

[rockwood84]

take the valve cover off and crank the motor and see if its just a stuck lifter. a stuck lifter makes a simular noise.2.3 s used to be bad about the lifters sticking.

[reds812000]

what exactly will i be looking for when i take the valve cover off?

[rockwood84]

if a lifter is stuck the lifter will not be moving as the others .. ford four cylinder motors are bad about the lifters sticking.the motor has to be running to see if all the lifters are moving up and down.

[reds812000]

and if its stuck, what do i need to replace?

[mightymoose_22]

You can worry about what do do later...

If you remove all the spark plugs you should be able to turn the motor by hand with a wrench on the crankshaft bolt (clockwise). If you feel anything obstructing movement then the head will need to come off.

Whether it is a lifter or a dropped seat the head will need to come off in order to do any repairs. With the symptoms you describe the head is going to need to come off no matter what, so really, you can skip this test.

[zzyzzx2]

I agree with mitymouse_22 it's probably a dropped valve seat. I had it happen at about 72,000 miles while driving on the highway. It put holes in my engine block. Oil was everywhere. 1 week and $4000 later, my car was as good as new. Just hit 165,000 miles on the odometer too.