Reccommend you get a good mechanic to look it over pronto! The best scenario is that its something rattling around in the air intake (which is black plastic & to the left of main engine housing), remove cover(easy), and air filter, and take a look.
Far scarier possiblities include that you mean the cambelt cover, which is also black plastic and left of engine. If its the cambelt going you really DON'T want to drive the car until you replace the cambelt, (a cheap & quick job for a mechanic).
I have the exact same model, and my cambelt went very suddenly, days before it was due to be serviced, this resulted in repair bill of £800!!!!!!!! (Needed total engine rebuild as result of the damage).
Lisa, December 2004
