Scraping noise from bottom of engine

Hi chaps,
Just wondered if anyone can hazard a guess at what I may be experiencing at the mo.

I was out in the mk1 16v today and when I pulled up after a short run I could hear quite a loud grinding/scraping noise coming from the crank pulley/water pump area. At first I thought it was the alt belt rubbing on the lower cam belt cover but I don't think it is. 

What would bottom end bearing sound like if it were gone? Or the water pump if it was in the way out?

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Bob.

Could be water pump pulley they can get a bit of a wobble on. 
Or a fin in the alternator rubbing the housing. 

Thanks for the reply, I've changed the water pump as it did have alot of movement on the pulley….but no luck the noise is still there. I think the alternator is the next on the list of investigation. Bob.

Not sure if you can do this on a 16v engine but on my 8v I would take the alternator belt off and run the car for a short time to see if the noise goes, but you will be running the engine without the water pump and alternator. If the noise is still there then its nothing run by the alternator belt, must be something run by the cam belt.

or get an engine stethoscope only a few quid may help to pinpoint the location of the noise

Cheers for the replies chaps,
I,m going to run the car without the alternator for a few seconds to see if the noise disapears. (once my fuel pump relay turns up, see my post in the electrical section ).
I'll report back once I find out what happens. I hope it is the alternator and not anything internal…..
Thanks Bob.

You can run the engine with out the water pump and alternator for a couple of minutes not problem, its more running without the water pump that is the problem than the alternator as you are just not charging the battery.

Had a look at the Golf this weekend, I removed the alternator belt and the noise was still there…

So I took the top cam belt cover off and …….noise gone. Glad I found it and that i wasnt anything internal. I put it back on now and gave it a bit of a giggle and the noise comes and goes.
I think i'll look at getting a new cover as this one looks a bit distorted.

Anyway thanks for the help.

Bob.