97 villager makes a "growling"

Possible wheel bearing!! listen to the side the noise is coming from, jack up that wheel then feel for play.

You may have a faulty wheel bearing, if it's the front you may feel it in the steering wheel, turning side to side the noise may increase or decrease. If the noise is coming from the rear, you may feel it in your seat.

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Have the wheel bearings been checked?

Suspect wheel bearing. They can be quite tricky to isolate as noise carries through coach. Try driving next to a large building with window down. Should be a growling noise that increases/ decreases with speed.

Sounds like the cable is dry and needs lubricating, sometimes you can take off the gearbox end and pour in some oil.

No the timing belt have been well replace or else the won't start.Well the timing must be check with a timing light and do the adjustment if necessary

sounds like a bad wheel bearing.

That is the bearings going bad on it.

sounds like a wheel bearing if you don`t hear a clicking it is a bearing

You need to replace your wheel bearing. Ford Escape bearings usually need changed around 80,000+ miles from my experience.