Whilst coming back from work this morning i noticed a strange popping
sound coming from the engine, i first thought i'd gotten a puncture and
was driving with a flat tyre but the tyres were fine.  When i had a
look under the bonnet and opened the throttle by hand the whole engine
block was vibrating and making the car shake, i decided to risk it and
try to mkae it home anyway as i was miles away.

The shaking and vibration stopped soon after but the popping sound now
seems only to happen when the engine is under strain like doing 20mph
in 4th gear or rolling through junctions in 2nd or 3rd.  It's kind of
like a quiet backfire noise but it's coming from the engine
compartment.  I've had a look over the exhaust and i can't see any
holes and everything else looks in order so any ideas are welcome.

I've a long journey to make next week so i need to get it sorted by
then.

Car is a 98 escort 1.6 16v

Thanks

"tollermccallum"  wrote in message 
news:1116675310.246247.233790@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Whilst coming back from work this morning i noticed a strange popping
> sound coming from the engine, i first thought i'd gotten a puncture and
> was driving with a flat tyre but the tyres were fine.  When i had a
> look under the bonnet and opened the throttle by hand the whole engine
> block was vibrating and making the car shake, i decided to risk it and
> try to mkae it home anyway as i was miles away.
>
> The shaking and vibration stopped soon after but the popping sound now
> seems only to happen when the engine is under strain like doing 20mph
> in 4th gear or rolling through junctions in 2nd or 3rd.  It's kind of
> like a quiet backfire noise but it's coming from the engine
> compartment.  I've had a look over the exhaust and i can't see any
> holes and everything else looks in order so any ideas are welcome.
>
> I've a long journey to make next week so i need to get it sorted by
> then.
>
> Car is a 98 escort 1.6 16v
>
> Thanks
>


possibly a coil pack or ht lead breaking down, giving a misfire/wrong 
cylinder firing.

mrcheerful