vw v5

[Coobeastie]

Hi my VW V5 (2300cc petrol) is making a scratchy rattly noise from the engine bay any ideas as to what it can be.

I don't think its the tappets as I've worked on them before with other cars and this sounds different.

A couple of things that spring to mind is that its either the timing chain (though the only things I can see are rubber belts on the left hand side of the engine which I wouldn't have thought would make this noise). Or that the catalyst is internally damaged.

The car is 6 years old but has only done 25k miles and has a full service history.