2009 HUMMER H3 ABS

Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer
and brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a Brake Assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied
the brake pedal in an attempt to
quickly stop or slow down the
vehicle. The stability system
hydraulic brake control module
increases brake pressure at each
corner of the vehicle until the
ABS activates. Minor brake pedal
pulsations or pedal movement
during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to applythe brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates The Brake Assist
feature will automatically disengage
when the brake pedal is released
or brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a vehicle stability
enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists the driver with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle’s brakes to assist
the driver with keeping the vehicle
on the intended path.
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic checksto insure there are no problems.
The system may be heard or
felt while it is working. This is normal
and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be
re-engaged when road conditions
allow. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-9.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak, a SERVICE STAB
SYS message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-37for more information.
When this message is displayed, the
system is not working. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started
and resets itself at each ignition
cycle. However, when the transfer
case is placed in Four-Wheel-Low
Lock mode, StabiliTrak is
4-6 Driving Your Vehicle

Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your
driving to these conditions. It is
important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try your best to
avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not
realize the surface is slippery until
the vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface — and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake
System (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking skid.Off-Road Driving
The airbag system is designed to
work properly under a wide range
of conditions, including off-road
usage. Always wear your safety belt
and observe safe driving speeds,
especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very
dangerous on any road and this is
certainly true for off-road driving.
At the very time you need special
alertness and driving skills, your
reexes, perceptions, and judgment
can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You could
have a serious — or even
fatal — accident if you drink and
drive or ride with a driver who has
been drinking.Off-roading can be great fun
but has some denite hazards. The
greatest of these is the terrain
itself. When off-road driving, traffic
lanes are not marked, curves are not
banked, and there are no road
signs. Surfaces can be slippery,
rough, uphill, or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers. Failure to operate the
vehicle correctly off-road could result
in loss of vehicle control or vehicle
rollover.
Off-roading involves some new
skills. That is why it is very important
that you read these driving tips
and suggestions to help make
off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-13

{CAUTION
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
and they could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something
could be in your lane (stalled car,
accident).
Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
SeeOff-Road Driving on page 4-13
for information about driving
off-road.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 32°F
(0°C) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently
so traction is not lost. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheelsto spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick, so there is even
less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If
you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
TheTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-7improves the ability
to accelerate on slippery roads, but
slow down and adjust your driving
to the road conditions. When driving
through deep snow, turn off the
traction control system to help
maintain vehicle motion at lower
speeds.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-5improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on a
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-31

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a at surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet for
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, or into gear for
vehicles with a manual
transmission. Turn the wheels
into the curb if facing downhill or
into traffic if facing uphill.2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal.
Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park) for vehicles
with an automatic transmission or
into gear for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on
a Hill
The vehicle has a Hill Start Assist
feature, which may be useful
when stopped on a grade. See
Braking on page 4-3for more
information.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal
while you:
start the engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
4-50 Driving Your Vehicle

4. Use the wheel wrench to tighten
the nuts rmly. Try to move the
tire back and forth slightly to
be sure it is secure.
5. Reinstall the center tire cover
onto the spare or at tire.
6. If the vehicle has a spare tire
cover close the cover and
latch the side latch.To store the jack tool bag and jack:
1. Return the tools to the jack
tool bag.
2. Secure the tool bag to the jack
by securely wrapping the straps
around the jack. Then, slide
the straps through the rings on
the bag and secure.
3. Position the jack and jack tool
bag in the swing-gate.
When reinstalling the jack and
jack tool bag, make sure the jack
base is securely seated behind
the tabs in the swing-gate.4. Reinstall the wing nut retainer to
fasten the jack and tool bag in
the storage compartment.
Make sure that the wing nut
passes through the tool bag and
the jack before tightening it.
5. Turn the wing nut retainer
clockwise to secure.
6. Reinstall the compartment cover
by inserting the locator tabs in
the holes in the swing-gate.
Push the latches down to secure.
Service and Appearance Care 5-79

Laundry detergents or
dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue
that streaks and attracts dirt.
For liquid cleaners, about
20 drops per gallon (3.78 L) of
water is a good guide. Use
only mild, neutral-pH soaps.
Too much cleaner that saturates
the upholstery.
Organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc. that can damage the
vehicle’s interior.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft
brush attachment frequently to
remove dust and loose dirt.
A canister vacuum with a beater bar
in the nozzle may only be used
on oor carpet and carpeted oor
mats. For any soil, always try
to remove it rst with plain water orclub soda. Before cleaning, gently
remove as much of the soil as
possible using one of the following
techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the
remaining soil with a paper towel.
Allow the soil to absorb into
the paper towel until no more
can be removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as
much as possible and then
vacuum.
To clean:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white
cloth with water or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess
moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the
soil and gently rub toward the
center. Continue cleaning, using
a clean area of the cloth each
time it becomes soiled.4. Continue to gently rub the soiled
area until the cleaning cloth
remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely
removed, use a mild soap
solution and repeat the cleaning
process that was used with
plain water.
If any of the soil remains, a
commercial fabric cleaner or spot
lifter may be necessary. When
a commercial upholstery cleaner or
spot lifter is to be used, test a
small hidden area for colorfastness
rst. If the locally cleaned area
gives any impression that a ring
formation may result, clean
the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been
completed, a paper towel can be
used to blot excess moisture
from the fabric or carpet.
5-84 Service and Appearance Care

Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
The engine compartment fuse block
is located on the driver side of the
engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-10for more information
on location.To remove the cover, push in on the
tabs at the ends of the cover and
lift. To reinstall the cover, line up the
tabs and push down on the cover
until the tabs clicks into place.
Notice:Spilling liquid on any
electrical components on
the vehicle may damage it.
Always keep the covers on any
electrical component.
5-92 Service and Appearance Care

A
Accessories and
Modications...................... 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets......3-18
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....1-58
Additives, Fuel...................... 5-6
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................5-91
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.......5-17
Air Conditioning...................3-19
Airbag
Passenger Status
Indicator.......................3-26
Readiness Light................3-25
Airbag System.....................1-46
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-58
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?.....................1-52
Passenger Sensing
System........................1-54
Servicing Your
Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle........................1-58Airbag System (cont.)
What Makes an Airbag
Inate?........................1-52
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?.............1-52
When Should an Airbag
Inate?........................1-50
Where Are the Airbags?.....1-49
Antenna, Fixed Mast............3-63
Antenna, XM™ Satellite
Radio Antenna System......3-63
Antilock Brake
System (ABS).................... 4-5
Antilock Brake, System
Warning Light...................3-28
Appearance Care
Aluminum or
Chrome-Plated Wheels . . . 5-88
Care of Safety Belts..........5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting.....5-90
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/
Lenses........................5-86
Fabric/Carpet...................5-84
Finish Care......................5-86
Finish Damage.................5-89
Appearance Care (cont.)
Instrument Panel, Vinyl,
and Other Plastic
Surfaces......................5-85
Interior Cleaning...............5-83
Leather...........................5-85
Sheet Metal Damage........5-89
Tires...............................5-89
Underbody Maintenance....5-89
Washing Your Vehicle........5-86
Weatherstrips...................5-86
Windshield, Backglass, and
Wiper Blades................5-87
Appointments, Scheduling
Service............................. 7-9
Ashtray...............................3-18
Assist Steps........................4-28
Audio System......................3-41
Fixed Mast Antenna..........3-63
Navigation/Radio System,
see Navigation Manual . . . 3-52
Radio Reception...............3-62
Setting the Clock..............3-41
Theft-Deterrent Feature......3-62
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System............3-63
INDEX i-1