Post-freeze car noise

[nit1]

I didn't use my Ford KA for a couple of days during the worst of the snow. It started fine, but is making a terrific grinding noise from the front while running. I have taken it out until the car is properly warmed up. No smoke or heat is being generated anywhere, but the noise is quieter in high gears and loud in low gears and at low speed. Could something just be frozen? Please tell me it will get better when everything thaws!

[TWR]

Hi, is there hot air coming from the heater? if poss, check the hoses/ heater hoses are the rock hard, I did read that you said the car is warmed up, have you checked for a build up of Ice under the wheel arches?

[nit1]

Thanks for getting back to me guys. No ice/snow underneath, and the cars heater is running hot, but it's a KA, and it normally does. Would alternator bearings not make something feel hot, and generate smoke (not being clever, genuine question, I really don't know)? It definitely sounds like something going round and round, grinding in low gears and then whining. Sounds less worrying at 50mpg, but still not healthy.

[chas2008]

could be a number of things, waterpump being one, clutch bng another , does the noise stop when you depress the clutch ?
To eliminate w/pump & alternator slacken of the drive belt for a few seconds.

[paulthewall]

It could be a number of things...not least:
brakes seized onto discs
waterpump is frozen solid(hence no heat), and therefore the fanbelt is not rotating; this could be the sound
heater fan has been distorted by freezing after a pipe burst in the matrix
Don't drive it too far, or damage may ensue.
Take a large amount of water with you in case of a burst heater pipe