Mazda 626 knocking sound / engine hesitation

Question

I have a 2002 Mazda 626. I have been hearing kind of a knocking sound as it starts and a little bit while I'm at higher speeds (around 65-70). It also has problems when I accelerate or go up hills, the engine kind of shudders and it doesn't really get any power. Sometimes after a while it will kind of kick into gear going up the hill and be fine. This is usually worse in warm weather. Oh and it overheats a little more than it should which I think is just a byproduct of the engine problem.

If anyone has any ideas let me know...I have already took it to someone who used a diagnostic machine on it and they couldn't find anything. They gave it a tune up and it helped a little but did not fix the problem. It came right back.

Answer 1

a knocking tords the lower part of the motor is a rod.  That bad really bad.  overhaul is due.

Ticking tords the top is lifters not so serious

Answer 2

it sounds very much like the big ends or the piston rings in the engine