Weird rattling/scraping sound coming from the timing belt area

[WRXforME]

Well my little bro just bought a 2002 WRX with 140k miles (ya, i know)...

Anyways, the car appeared in good shape and I test drove it myself. For the price it was a nice pickup.

He let me drive it today for a quick errand and I let the car idle, I came back out and my little brother was trying to find where this weird rattling/scraping noise was coming from. After popping the hood, we realized it wasnt a heatshield or something you can see, its something not visible just by looking down in the engine bay. I took it to another WRX friend and he seems to think it could be the timing is off on the car, and asked if the timing belt has been changed. My lil bro called up the previous owner and he said that he had changed it 3 times.

Im just wondering if anyone can give any suggestions to what could make a weird noise such as this in the timing belt area. Im ready to rip off the timing belt cover but my brother doesnt want to atm. Hes going to take it to Subaru for an inspection when he gets a chance. Im just fishing for ideas... thx

Heres a soundclip of it YouTube - WRX motor making noises

[nagyhead]

just pop the timing covers off, it's four 10 mm bolts.

that doesn't sound good at all. almost sounds like the tensioner is too tight.

[WRXforME]

Well he did the smart thing and brought it to Subaru. They took it off... They said that the belt was so badly shredded it wouldve snapped anytime. They are replacing the timing belt, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, all the seals, and the waterpump, for $750 including labor.

[Jave]

you got hosed on the cost. but should be right as rain now..