2009 HUMMER H3 headlamp

Do not continue if the vehicle
shudders or exhibits suspension
hopping. This can cause
damage to the driveline or
suspension components.
Improper driving technique is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
{CAUTION
Turning or driving across steep
hills can be dangerous. You could
lose traction, slide sideways, and
possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When
driving up hills, always try to go
straight up.
Try to drive straight up the hill if
at all possible. If the path twists
and turns, you might want to
nd another route.
Ease up on the speed as you
approach the top of the hill.
Attach a ag to the vehicle to be
more visible to approaching
traffic on trails or hills.
Sound the horn as you approach
the top of the hill to let opposing
traffic know you are there.
Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more
visible to oncoming traffic.
{CAUTION
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill
at full speed can cause an
accident. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or
even another vehicle. You could
be seriously injured or killed. As
you near the top of a hill, slow
down and stay alert.If the vehicle stalls, or is about to
stall, and you cannot make it up
the hill:
Push the brake pedal to stop the
vehicle and keep it from rolling
backwards and apply the parking
brake.
If the engine is still running, shift
the transmission to R (Reverse),
release the parking brake,
and slowly back down the hill in
R (Reverse).
If the engine has stopped
running, you need to restart
it. With the brake pedal
pressed, apply the parking
brake. If the vehicle has an
automatic transmission, shift the
transmission to P (Park).
Restart the engine. Then, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and slowly back
down the hill as straight as
possible in R (Reverse).
4-22 Driving Your Vehicle

Assist Steps
If your vehicle has removable side
steps, remove the steps prior to
off-roading to give your vehicle more
ground clearance and to prevent
damage to the vehicle from the side
steps dragging and/or catching
on obstacles.
Notice:Do not drive off-road
with the side steps attached
to your vehicle. You can damage
the side steps and/or your
vehicle’s frame if they get caught
or drag against an obstacle.
This damage would not be
covered by your vehicle’s
warranty. Always remove the
side steps prior to any off-road
driving.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous
than day driving because
some drivers are likely to be
impaired — by alcohol or drugs,
with night vision problems, or
by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by
adjusting the inside rearview
mirror.
Slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles
because headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into
approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass
on your vehicle clean — inside
and out.
Keep your eyes moving,
especially during turns or curves.
No one can see as well at night as
in the daytime. But, as we get
older, these differences increase. A
50-year-old driver might need at
least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
4-28 Driving Your Vehicle

Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm,
but be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for
only short periods as needed to
warm the vehicle and then shut the
engine off and close the window
most of the way to save heat.
Repeat this until help arrives
but only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine
runs faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do
this as little as possible to save fuel.If Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out on page 4-34.
If the vehicle has a traction system,
it can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s
traction system in the Index. If stuck
too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method.
{CAUTION
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin
at high speed, they can explode,
and you or others could be
injured. The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment
re or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and
avoid going above 35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, seeTire
Chains on page 5-65.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-33

The trailer towing harness contains
the following seven trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
Brown: Taillamps
White: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Red: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, turn on the headlamps
to boost the vehicle system voltage
to properly charge the battery.Four-Wire Harness Adapter
If towing a light-duty trailer with a
standard four-way, at pin
connector, an adapter is available
from your dealer/retailer.
Hold the adapter with the tab
pointing up.Connect the adapter to the
seven-pin universal heavy-duty
trailer connector attached to
the bracket on the hitch platform.
The ip cap on the vehicle’s harness
locks onto the tab and helps hold
the adapter in place. Plug the
four-way pin connector onto the
adapter.
4-52 Driving Your Vehicle

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition
65 Warning.......................5-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle........5-5
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-6
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-7
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-13
Engine Oil Life System.....5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .5-17
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-18
Manual Transmission
Fluid................................5-20
Hydraulic Clutch................5-21
Cooling System.................5-22
Engine Coolant.................5-23
Engine Overheating...........5-27
Engine Fan Noise.............5-28
Power Steering Fluid.........5-29
Windshield Washer Fluid. . .5-30
Brakes..............................5-30
Battery..............................5-33
Jump Starting...................5-34
Rear Axle
Rear Axle.........................5-38
Four-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive..............5-38
Front Axle
Front Axle.........................5-39
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-39
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-41
Halogen Bulbs..................5-41
Headlamps........................5-41
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3)
.....................5-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3T)
...................5-42
License Plate Lamp..........5-43
Replacement Bulbs...........5-43
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

Front Axle
It is not necessary to regularly
check front axle uid unless a leak
is suspected or an unusual noise
is heard. A uid loss could indicate
a problem.
It is recommended that the front
axle uid be checked and lled by
your dealer/retailer.
Headlamp Aiming
The vehicle may have a visual
optical headlamp aiming system.
The aim has been preset at
the factory and should need no
further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged
in a crash, the headlamp aim
may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their
high beams at you, this may also
mean the vertical aim needs to
be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle
is taken to your dealer/retailer
for service if the headlamps need to
be re-aimed. It is possible however,
to re-aim the headlamps as
described.The vehicle should be:Placed so the headlamps are
25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light
colored wall or other at surface.
On a level surface which is level
all the way to a wall.
Placed so it is at a right angle to
the wall or other at surface.
Clear of any snow, ice, or
mudonit.
Fully assembled, the tires
properly inated, and all other
work stopped while headlamp
aiming is being performed.
Normally loaded with the spare
tire in its original location and a
full tank of fuel and one person or
160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the
driver seat.
Service and Appearance Care 5-39

To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood
Release on page 5-9.
2. Record the distance from the
ground to the aim dot on the
headlamp.3. At a wall, measure from the
ground upward the recorded
distance from Step 2 and mark it.
4. Draw or tape a horizontal line the
width of the vehicle at the wall
where it was marked it Step 4.
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
5. Turn on the headlamps and
place a piece of cardboard
or equivalent in front of the
headlamp not being aimed.This should allow only the beam
of light from the headlamp being
aimed to be seen on the wall.
6. Locate the vertical headlamp
aiming screws, which are
under the hood near each
headlamp assembly.
The adjustment screw can be
turned with an E8 Torx
®socket
or T15 Torx®screwdriver.
Passenger Side Shown
5-40 Service and Appearance Care

7. Turn the vertical aiming screw
until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape
line. Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the beam.
The top edge of the cut-off
should be positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line.
8. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for the
opposite headlamp.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs
on page 5-43.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer/retailer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps
To replace a headlamp bulb:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood
Release on page 5-9for
more information.
2. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
3. Unplug the electrical connector
by pushing the release tab and
pulling the bulb socket out.
4. Replace with a new bulb socket.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to
reinstall.
Service and Appearance Care 5-41