I dropped my '09 off at my mechanic this morning; the last time I was in, they recommended the timing belt be replaced, as it was due in the next 10,000 km. I decided to wait, but brought it in now, as I understand that waiting too long on that service can lead to bigger problems. I also had a squeal on start-up, that lasted the first couple km of morning driving (it's been cold here). The mechanic suggested that it might be the tensioner. How expensive should I expect this to be, and will the cost at least be mitigated by the fact that they'll be in there for the timing belt in any event?

 

Typically the "squeal" is the bearings on the tensioner pulley wheel(s). Some DIY'ers (including myself) just change the wheels. You have to take the whole tensioner assembly off the engine to change the wheels so professional mechanics change the whole assembly, for various reasons. I typically change them along with the drive belt when I change the timing belt.

It's also possible to be the bearings in the alternator.

 

get the 105k service performed,which will take care of the timing belt, water pump and tensioner.
you can throw in spark plugs too.
and if noisy, adjust valves.

 

Keeping in mind there are actually several "tensioners" on the J-series : hydraulic auto tensioner (under timing cover this tensions the timing belt) then there is the tensioner 'pulley' (this is what the hydraulic auto tensioner pushes up against to keep tension on the timing belt) and then there is the auto tensioner for the serpentine belt. This is likely the cause of your squealing (or a bad serpentine belt). It's not "normally" a part of the timing belt service, but the part isn't expensive (Even OEM isn't bad) and I had 'chirp' on my J35 and since you actually have to take the auto tensioner for the serpentine belt off to replace the timing belt, I ended up replacing mine when I recently did my timing belt service. Glad I did. The hydraulic tensioner (timing belt) was actually starting to seep fluid and the auto tensioner for the serpentine belt definitely had bad bearings, I could reproduce the noise I heard by just spinning the pulley by hand once I removed it.

HTH

 

Ended up being $1,243 plus tax, and that meant a new timing belt, seals, pulleys serpentine belt and tensioner. That also included replacing the right fog (but I provided the part) and putting 3M on both fogs. keep in mind, that's CAD.

Disappointingly, when I started the car, I got the same squeal, but it went away very quickly (where's before it would last through a 5 minute warm-up, and then the first couple km of driving). I'll just keep an eye on that.

 

Is this covered under 5year / 100kms powerein warranty. Mine is starting to squeal on start up. I only have 82000kms on my 2013 SHAWD ? I was going to bring it in to dealer if warranty covered it. Thanks