My 2000 VW beetle is making a strange noise,What could it be?

I have a 2000 VW beetle that I just had the battery charged and was running fine until yesterday I went to drive and I noticed a loud machine gun noise coming from my car, Do you know what this could be?Could it be the starter? ThanksMy 2000 VW beetle is making a strange noise,What could it be?Was that noise while the car was running or while you were trying to start it? If it was during starting then yes probably your starter... If it was while the car was running could be a few things. I had one of my cooling fan fins bent and it would tap my radiator while the engine was running.