The dreaded 'Dropped Valve Seat' problem of Ford Escorts. Well documented design flaw in these next generation 2.0 liter SPI engines (several 'youtube' videos can show you what it sounds like after it happens...).

Ford kicked the can down the road for six model years w/o addressing it. They suck for doing so. ANY 1996-2001 Escort/Tracer or Focus with this engine becomes a ticking bomb as it approaches 100,000 miles. It matters not if the vehicle was well maintained, as the problem lies in the varying rates of expansion/contraction between the aluminum head, and ferrous metal valve seats. They WILL eventually loosen due to bad design regarding the way they are assembled, and drop bits of shrapnel, almost always into the # 4 cylinder. Might as well toss a handful of BB's into your intake manifold. When this eventually happens, it's usually with little or no notice, and nearly always fatal to the motor.

The problem is so widespread that junkyards are frequently sold out of salvageable heads for these engines, yet often have an abundant supply of very nice looking '97-'01 Escort bodies in need of a new motor. Now you know why...