2009 HUMMER H3 transmission

For mounds, washouts, loose
up-hill slopes, ditches, etc.
When wheel spin occurs as the
vehicle is moving, the driver may
notice a slight shaking or shuddering
of the vehicle. This should be
stopped as soon as possible to
prevent damage to vehicle
components. This is the indication
that a loss of traction is occurring on
this terrain. The operator should:
1. Reduce speed and apply
the brakes.
2. Assess the terrain properly and
adjust vehicle speed and gear
ranges accordingly: Four-Wheel
High position for higher speeds
and Four-Wheel-Low Lock
for more torque and lower
speeds. Transmission 1 (First)
gear is generally recommended.3. Apply slight pressure to the
brake when the shaking or
shuddering sensation is felt,
keeping the vehicle moving in a
controlled manner.
4. Be prepared to alternate between
braking and accelerating through
the adverse terrain.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an
area that is safe and close to home
before you go into the wilderness.
Off-roading requires some new
and different skills.
Tune your senses to different
kinds of signals. Your eyes need
to constantly sweep the terrain
for unexpected obstacles. Your ears
need to listen for unusual tire or
engine sounds. Use your arms,
hands, feet, and body to respond to
vibrations and vehicle bounce.Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the
vehicle is to control the speed.
At higher speeds:
You approach things faster and
have less time to react.
There is less time to scan the
terrain for obstacles.
The vehicle has more bounce
when driving over obstacles.
More braking distance is needed,
especially on an unpaved surface.
{CAUTION
When you are driving off-road,
bouncing and quick changes in
direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause
you to lose control and crash.
So, whether you are driving
on or off the road, you and
your passengers should wear
safety belts.
4-18 Driving Your Vehicle

For very large dips, ditches or
small washes, coast in, using the
engine as a brake (transmission
and transfer case lowest gears).
Then, use the low ranges in
the transmission and transfer case
to power out.
Roll The Tires Over Large Rocks
Do not straddle large rocks; drive
over them, letting the tire cover
the rock. The tread of the tire
is thicker and tougher than the
sidewall of the tire and is more
resilient to impact than underbody
components.Log Crossing
Using the proper technique, the
vehicle will cross logs up to
10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter.
Approach the log at approximately a
15° angle (A) with the transmission
in 1 (First) and the transfer case
in Four-Wheel-Low Lock and “walk”
the vehicle over, one tire at a
time. It may be necessary to
modulate the brake pedal and
accelerator to avoid spin-out. Ease
the vehicle down from the log
with the brake.Driving on Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up,
down, or across a hill. Driving
safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
There are some hills that simply
cannot be driven, no matter how well
built the vehicle.
{CAUTION
Many hills are simply too steep for
any vehicle. If you drive up them,
you will stall. If you drive down
them, you cannot control your
speed. If you drive across them,
you will roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you
have any doubt about the
steepness, do not drive the hill.
4-20 Driving Your Vehicle

Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, decide
if it is too steep to climb, descend, or
cross. Steepness can be hard to
judge. On a very small hill, for
example, there may be a smooth,
constant incline with only a
small change in elevation where
you can easily see all the way to the
top. On a large hill, the incline
may get steeper as you near the
top, but you might not see this
because the crest of the hill
is hidden by bushes, grass, or
shrubs.
Consider this as you approach
a hill:
Is there a constant incline, or
does the hill get sharply
steeper in places?
Is there good traction on the
hillside, or will the surface
cause tire slipping?
Is there a straight path up or
down the hill so you will not have
to make turning maneuvers?
Are there obstructions on the hill
that can block your path, such
as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?
What is beyond the hill? Is there
a cliff, an embankment, a
drop-off, a fence? Get out and
walk the hill if you do not know. It
is the smart way to nd out.
Is the hill simply too rough?
Steep hills often have ruts,
gullies, troughs, and exposed
rocks because they are
more susceptible to the effects
of erosion.
See “Hill Start Assist” underBraking
on page 4-3for information on
vehicles stopped on a grade.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide it is safe to drive
up the hill:
Use transmission and transfer
case low gear and get a rm
grip on the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill
and try to maintain speed.
Not using more power than
needed can avoid spinning the
wheels or sliding.
Let the traction system work to
control any wheel slippage.
The traction control system
allows for moderate wheel spin
with some capability to dig in and
power up the hill.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-21

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

While backing down the hill, put
your left hand on the steering
wheel at the 12 o’clock position
so you can tell if the wheels
are straight and can maneuver
as you back down. It is best
to back down the hill with
the wheels straight rather than
in the left or right direction.
Turning the wheel too far to the
left or right will increase the
possibility of a rollover.
Things not to do if the vehicle stalls,
or is about to stall, when going
up a hill:
Never attempt to prevent a stall
by shifting into N (Neutral) to
rev-up the engine and regain
forward momentum. This will
not work. The vehicle can
roll backward very quickly and
could go out of control.
Never try to turn around if about
to stall when going up a hill. If
the hill is steep enough to
stall the vehicle, it is steep
enough to cause it to roll over. If
you cannot make it up the hill,
back straight down the hill.
If, after stalling, you try to back
down the hill and decide you just
cannot do it, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, shift to P (Park). Turn
off the engine. Leave the vehicle
and go get some help. Exit on
the uphill side and stay clear of the
path the vehicle would take if it
rolled downhill. Do not shift
the transfer case to Neutral when
you leave the vehicle. Leave it
in some gear.{CAUTION
Shifting the transfer case to
Neutral can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). This is because the
Neutral position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be
injured. If you are going to leave
your vehicle, set the parking
brake and shift the transmission
to P (Park). But do not shift the
transfer case to Neutral.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-23

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you
downhill, consider:
How steep is the downhill? Will I
be able to maintain vehicle
control?
What is the surface like?
Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Are there hidden surface
obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
What is at the bottom of the hill?
Is there a hidden creek bank or
even a river bottom with large
rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill
safely, try to keep the vehicle
headed straight down. Use a low
gear so engine drag can help
the brakes so they do not have to
do all the work. Descend slowly,
keeping the vehicle under control at
all times.
{CAUTION
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a
serious accident. Apply the brakes
lightly when descending a hill and
use a low gear to keep vehicle
speed under control.
Things not to do when driving down
a hill:
When driving downhill, avoid
turns that take you across
the incline of the hill. A hill that
is not too steep to drive down
might be too steep to drive
across. The vehicle could
roll over.
Never go downhill with the
transmission in N (Neutral), called
free-wheeling. The brakes will
have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.Vehicles are much more likely to
stall when going uphill, but if it
happens when going downhill:
1. Stop the vehicle by applying the
regular brakes and apply the
parking brake.
2. With an automatic transmission,
shift to P (Park). While still
braking, restart the engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release
the parking brake, and drive
straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get
out and get help.
4-24 Driving Your Vehicle

Before Leaving on a
Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, consider having it serviced
by your dealer/retailer before
departing.
Things to check on your own
include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:
Reservoir full? Windows
clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All
levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are
lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires
inated to recommended
pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to
travel? Have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving. If
you become tired or sleepy, nd
a safe place to park your vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
Keep interior temperature cool.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on at or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
Check all uid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
Going down steep or long hills,
shift to a lower gear.
{CAUTION
If you do not shift down, the
brakes 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. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
4-30 Driving Your Vehicle

Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around
the front wheels. The traction control
system activates when the system
senses that the wheels are spinning.
Turn off any traction or stability
system. With the wheels straight
ahead, shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a forward gear,
or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until
the wheels stop spinning before
shifting gears. Release the
accelerator pedal while shifting, and
press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that
could free the vehicle. If that does
not get the vehicle out after a
few tries, it might need to be towed
out. The recovery loops can beused. If the vehicle does need to be
towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-40.
Recovery Loops
{CAUTION
These loops, when used, are
under a lot of force. Keep people
away from the vicinity of the loops
and any chains or cables during
use. Always pull the vehicle
straight out. Never pull on the
loops at a sideways angle. The
loops could break off and you or
others could be injured from the
chain or cable snapping back.
Notice:Never use the recovery
loops to tow the vehicle. Your
vehicle could be damaged and it
would not be covered by
warranty.The vehicle has two recovery loops
at the front of the vehicle and
one at the rear of the vehicle.
Use them if the vehicle is stuck
off-road and needs to be pulled to
some place where the driver
can continue driving.
4-34 Driving Your Vehicle