What THE is this?!?!

[blackbeauty]

What THE is this?!?

hi everyone!

i have a problem. my car is making an awful sound now.
at first it started out sounding like a new belt was needed. then 2 weeks later i started to hear a knocking sound when i would start up the car. but once the car was warmed up it would go away.

well, NOT anymore. the knocking sound is MUCH louder now and you really hear it when stopped at a light. quite embarrassing actually b/c you hear the whistling sound AND knocking.

at first i thought i needed a new belt but now i don't think so.

i have an appt to drop off my car on Wed but i wanted to walk in there with a little bit of knowledge since my warranty has expired.

the knocking is definitely coming from the front.

here's the video:
YouTube - IMG_0874



i wanted to get advice here b/c this site ROCKS!
when i did a search i found various issues such as timing belt, belt tensioners, etc. so i wanted to see if someone here can diagnose my issue?

i just hate walking into a shop and looking like a deer in the headlights.