'98 Escort transmission woes.

If the speedometer works but the odometer does not, the problem is inside the speedometer. Probably a stripped gear.

The "grinding" sound leads me to believe that your clutch is not completely disengaging. Does it also do it in Reverse? First gear and reverse gear is not syncronized. Sometimes it helps to go to reverse, then bring it back to first to keep from having to force the thing into gear. Forcing it will bend the shifting fork inside the transmission. If it has been forced a few times, you may allready have a bent fork. Anyway, if it is also "grinding" going into Reverse, it is time for a clutch.

Manual transmissions use gear oil, not automatic transmission fluid.
There will be a filler plug on the side of the gearbox. The gear oil should be filled up to the very bottom of the filler plug hole.

You will have to lubricate your shift mechanism. Shift Linkage —Transmission Gearshift Rod and Clevis Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle;

1. Remove the heat shield front (RH) bolt.
2. Remove the heat shield middle (RH)& (LH) bolts.
3. Remove the heat shield middle (LH) bolt.
4. Remove the heat shield rear bolt.
5. Remove the transmission gearshift rod-to-shift lever nut.

7.Remove the transmission gearshift lever clamp bolt and the transmission gearshift rod and clevis .

8.Remove the transmission gearshift rod nut.

9. Remove the transmission gearshift bolt from the input shift shaft and remove the transmission gearshift rod and clevis.


You may not have to remove the linkage but make sure to lubricate all the moving parts until they are freely moving. Although it is probably easier if the linkage is removed and work done on a bench or something.
Drain Procedure

1. Raise and support the vehicle;
2. Remove the drain plug and drain the fluid.
3. NOTE: Use a new gasket on the drain plug.
   Install the drain plug.
4. Tighten plug to 29-40 ft/lbs

Fill Procedure

1. Park the vehicle on level ground and apply the parking brake.

1. Disconnect the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) electrical connector.

3.Remove the bolt and the VSS.

4. Place a funnel into the VSS hole.

5. Add the specified transaxle fluid until the full level on the VSS is reached.

OIL LEVEL BETWEEN ARROWS^^^^^ You will have to insert the vss to verify the level is between the arrows as indicated. (use it like a dipstick)
6. When full...(a)Install the VSS and the bolt. (b) Connect the VSS electrical connector. IO hope this helps you. Please give feedback if you want to. Wfservices

For 1998 Ford Escort 2.0L MFI SOHC SPI 4cyl

With AUTOMATISC TRANSMISSION
Cooling System Mix 7/8 Gallon (s) of Full Strength Anti-Freeze

Application:
With automatic transmission

Note :
Specification amount is for a 50/50 ratio
mix in the cooling system.

If using pre-mixed anti-freeze
double the amount needed.


With MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Cooling System Mix 3/4 Gallon (s) of Full Strength Anti-Freeze

Application:
With manual transmission

Note :
Specification amount is for a 50/50 ratio
mix in the cooling system.

If using pre-mixed anti-freeze
double the amount needed.

Hope this help (remember comment and rated this).

yeah. it takes a little bit of brute force or a axle puller.

it just pulls out. it hasa circlip that holds it in on driver side. which side?

here's an escort, should be similar. note step 17

Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
   

1. Remove the lug nuts (1012) and the front wheel and tire assembly.
   

1. Remove the front fender splash shield bolts and the front fender splash shields (16103) .
   

1. Use a small cape chisel to carefully raise the staked portion of the front axle wheel hub retainer (3B477).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the front axle wheel hub retainer and discard it.
   

1. Remove the cotter pin and the tie rod end nut from the tie rod end (3A130). Discard the cotter pin.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Use an appropriate tie rod end remover to separate the tie rod end from the front wheel knuckle (3K186).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the ball joint bolt and the ball joint bolt nut.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Carefully pry down on the front suspension lower arm (3078) to separate the front suspension lower arm ball joint (3050) from the front wheel knuckle.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Pull outward on the front wheel knuckle (3K185). Carefully pull the front wheel driveshaft and joint from the front wheel knuckle and position it aside.
   
   
   
   
   

1. NOTE: Removal of the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint (3B437) requires removal of the transmission support crossmember (6A023) to allow access with a pry bar. If the LH front wheel driveshaft and joint is being removed, continue with step 11. If the RH front wheel driveshaft and joint is being removed, continue with step 15.
   
   Support the transaxle with a transaxle jack or equivalent.
   

1. Remove the four transaxle mount-to-rear engine support nuts.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the two rear engine support nuts at the rear of the transmission support crossmember.
   

1. While supporting the rear of the transmission support crossmember remove the two rear engine support bolts. Remove the transmission support crossmember.
   
   
   
   
   

1. Position a drain pan under the transaxle.
   

1. Insert a pry bar between the front wheel driveshaft and joint and the transaxle case.
   

1. CAUTION: Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the pry bar does not damage the transaxle case, the transaxle oil seal, the front wheel driveshaft and joint, or the front wheel driveshaft joint boot (3A331).
   Gently pry outward to release the front wheel driveshaft and joint from the differential side gears (4236).
   
   
   
   
   

1. Remove the front wheel driveshaft and joint.
   
   
   
   
   

1. CAUTION: When the LH and RH front wheel driveshaft and joint assemblies are removed, Transaxle Plugs T88C-7025-AH must be inserted to prevent the differential side gears from becoming mispositioned. If the gears become misaligned, the differential will have to be removed from the transaxle to align the gears.
   If both front wheel driveshaft and joints were removed, install Transaxle Plugs T88C-7025-AH in the differential side gears.
   

1. Remove and discard the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip (3Z498).
   

I assume your talking standard shift transmission and the gear shift jumps out of 1 gear. You need a transmission job.

I know this sounds crazy according to Ford:

You can use-
Motorcraft MERCON Multi-Purpose (ATF) Transmission Fluid XT-2-QDX MERCON® Alternative Transaxle Fluid - SAE 75W90 Gear Oil F32Z-19C547-MA API GL-4
You are seeing that right, one instance they call for 75W90 and the other it is ATF. It is ok to run either, 75W90 will give you smoother shifts and less noise.

This transmission is filled through the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) hole.

I guess you know no matter what the noise is the transmission will have to come out and be overhauled, one question, have you checked the CV joints on the axle shafts?