Swedish Meatball

I know this is a longshot, but can someone identify this weird sound that I heard today coming from the timing belts area of the engine bay? (Or someplace else near the frontside of the engine) This was the first time I started the car in over a year and I can't remember the sound being there last summer..

The car is on idle and this weird noise comes in periods. The sound resembles the sound coming from a wobbling wheel or something like that. It's heard in the soundclip I've attached to this message somewhere around 4 and 11 seconds into the clip..

I just wanted to see if anyone here recognizes it and can point me in any direction before I do some more examining tomorrow..

Thank you!

sweanders

It's fairly easy to remove the belt covers, if the sound is coming from behind them you will want to know what it is before loosing a belt.

Luis de Prat

Take a long screwdriver and put your ear against the handle as you point the tip at different points on the belt covers. This will give you a better idea of where the noise is coming from and, checking the position against a diagram, what roller or tensioner may be making the noise.