hi all, just joined up to the forum

i have a 1998 escort 1.8td endura engine model.

today i started her up and all seemed fine, then got half way down the bypass (about 1 mile) and started to hear a noise coming from the engine. the best i can describe is it sounds like the noisey tappet sound when you first start it up. i got to my destination, let the engine cool off, ten fired it up to see if all was ok. the noise was still there but not as bad as when first heard it. so i thought it might go away. when i left to come home it wont start. tried a few times to get it going but no luck.

has anyone got an idea of what it might be? or what i can check?

thanks