Squeaking noise from engine on stage 1a

I've recently noticed a squeaking noise coming from the driver / transmission side of the engine bay on stage 1a, after transitioning to 1b I can't hear it anymore.

I can't reproduce the sound in inspection mode.

I thought it could be the engine coolant pump, but I turned it on with engine off with techstream, and there is no squeaking, so I would rule it out.

The car has 310k KM.
Transmission oil changed every 90k Km
Virtually no engine oil consumption.
No DTC codes.

What could it be?

 

it occurs when the car is stationary

 

edited original post and added recording
https://photos.app.goo.gl/89QQQJvgXrzjg2ER6

 

If I understand well in S1a MG1 and MG2 are not turning, the only thing spinning is the ice and torque limiter ( the clutch on the flywheel ).
My theory is that the coil springs on the clutch developed some play and squeak, since they have no lubrication and they absorb the infamous startup shudders caused by shut off while the ice is still charging the hv battery.

I can confirm the squeaking stops as soon as the ice is under load i.e. charging the hv battery

 

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I also thought about the heat shields, I mended them a week ago, but the sound persits, it' s really high pitched, like the sound of worn drill trying to perforate some hard metal, but quite hard to hear, and I think it comes from the flywheel location.

When MG1 engages at S1b the noise stops, it' s like it absorbs the vibration.,

I was tempted to spray some wd40 on the flywheel springs if they can be reached from the plastic cover , but what if the cutch starts slipping?

Here are some pictures of the mended heat shields.

 

I had no chance yet to open the flywheel cover due to long holiday trip back to my home town in Italy, with up to 2200 meters mountain pass and MG teperature up to 132°c. The car was fully loaded with 2 adults 2 grown kids, full trunk a 50 kg bag on the roof and a bike.

I could compare the sound I hear like a shaft rotating in a bushing without oil, for the first minute afyer engine start, than again it stops at stage 1b.

 

I opened the flywheel panels, the noise comes from there, at 10 seconds of the first recording the noise stops during the transition from s1a to s1b, when load is applied to mg1.
it seems the springs developed some play, this can be heard in the second recording by moving the flywheel with a screwdriver.
No parts found at the bottom, but if any I think they would be at the opposite side of the flywheel. Question is how long do I have before failure.
video 1
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kWuNCfjBfynMjruo8

video 2
https://photos.app.goo.gl/pJ2g7u2bHJ1etgfx7

 

Does the torque damper fail in the 4th gen too?

 

is there enough clearance in the engine bay to remove the clutch without taking the engine out if the engine bay?

 

Update : The sound has stopped for 3 weeks now.

3 weeks ago I went on holidays to Germany.
The Car was loaded with bike, 4 persons, bagage and a 3 gallons jerrycan of fuel.

I drove 200km of autobahn 3/4 to full trottle on bumpy surface.

My theory is that one of the springs was deformed back in march this year, during a missfire death rattle typical of start after improper shutdown.

I guess one or more springs weren't fast enough to fully extend and slightly came out of it' s seat compressed and bent on a side.

It could be that the brutal inertial force on the torque damper generated by bumps at 170kmh with fully loaded car at full throttle might have pushed the springs to end of their travel and reversed some of the lateral deformation.

I could not see this with my eyes since I don't have an endoscope so it is all theory, but still there is no debree behind the clutch cover and no vibrations, I really hope it stays like this.

 

During last month the sound randomly came back and went away so following @ASRDogman advice I replaced the torque damper with a 2014 just for the sake.

I can confirm it can be done without removing the engine with the help of a jack and tension straps.

The old one had no visible damage, but the springs were definetly less firm than the replacement.

To gain some extra room I removed the metallic frame holding the radiator / bumber on the water pump side.

I dit it alone and it was a hell of a job at least for me.

There is a Black pastic cover left over and I can' t figure out where is comes from, I guess a cable protection, anyone knows?

Fotos: