98 escort LX Horrible Noise in the engine!!!
 

A few months back I was out driving around for about 2 hours, well I stopped to get some food etc etc. I came back out, started the car and it was fine, put it in reverse and the second I started to move the engine started to clank and bang REALLY bad, turned it off, let it sit, went to start it again and it started up but still had the noise. Ended up towing it home and its been in the driveway since. No matter what gear I put it in, this noise is here, and it is horrible!! It is drivable...but it does not sound safe at all and is really jerky. Took it to a shop and they were just plain jerks..all they did was start it up and they decided that I blew the oil pump, bent a rod, and shot the engine. I know that none of that is accurate, oil light is not on or ever came on and there is no oil spills anywhere, and if the engine was shot no way in hell I would be able to drive it let alone start it. Anyone have any ideas before I spend anything at another shop?

Is the noise from the engine or transmission? If it is in the engine you need to do a compression test on the cylinders. The Escort engines are known for dropping valve seats, especially in the #4 cylinder. If it's dropped out you'll have to replace the head with a rebuilt one or one from a JY and you will probably have some damage to the piston and possibly the cylinder wall. Sometimes the damage to the piston is just a small amount on top of the piston and it is still use able and sometimes it has to be replaced. If the seat is just loose then all you would need to do is either put a new head on or have your old one rebuilt. Either way a compression test should tell you if the problem is a valve seat or not. Good luck.