2009 HUMMER H3 service

Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on otherwise clear roads
in shaded areas. The surface of
a curve or an overpass can remain
icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Service on page 7-6. To get help
and keep everyone in the vehicle
safe:
Turn on theHazard Warning
Flashers on page 3-5.
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{CAUTION
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
Clear away snow from
around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe.
Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window about two
inches (5 cm) on the side of
the vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-31.
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can
cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO
could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so
you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking the
exhaust.
4-32 Driving Your Vehicle

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled
vehicle should be towed with all four
wheels off the ground. Consult
your dealer/retailer or a professional
towing service if the disabled
vehicle must be towed. See
Roadside Service on page 7-6
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational
purposes — such as behind a
motorhome, see “Recreational
Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy
towing” — towing the vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, and“dolly towing” — towing the vehicle
with two wheels on the ground
and two wheels up on a device
known as a “dolly”.
Here are some important things to
consider before recreational
vehicle towing:
What is the towing capacity of
the tow vehicle? Be sure to
read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s
recommendations.
What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and
how long they can tow.
Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer/retailer or trailering
professional for additional advice
and equipment
recommendations.
Is the vehicle ready to be towed?
Just as preparing the vehicle for
a long trip, make sure the
vehicle is prepared to be towed.
SeeBefore Leaving on a
Long Trip on page 4-30.
Dinghy Towing
This full-time four-wheel-drive
vehicle can be dinghy towed from
the front. These vehicles can also be
towed by placing them on a
platform trailer with all four wheels
off the ground. These vehicles
cannot be towed using a dolly.
4-40 Driving Your Vehicle

Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual’s Maintenance Schedule
or Index for more information.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission uid, engine oil,
axle lubricant, belts, cooling system
and brake system. It is a good
idea to inspect these before and
during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Light-Duty Trailer Wiring Package
If the vehicle does not have a
trailer towing package, the chassis
harness will contain the following
blunt cut circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
White: Ground
Brown: Tail Lamps
To add a trailer towing wiring
package, have it installed by your
dealer/retailer or a qualied
service center. Also, seeAdd-On
Electrical Equipment on page 5-91
for more information.Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring
Package
If the vehicle has a trailer towing
package, the rear bumper harness
will have a seven-pin universal
heavy-duty trailer connector
attached to a bracket on the hitch
platform.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-51

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

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................5-44
Tires
Tires.................................5-44
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......5-45
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................5-48
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .5-51
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................5-52
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................5-54
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................5-57
When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................5-58
Buying New Tires.............5-59
Different Size Tires and
Wheels............................5-61
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................5-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance...........................5-63
Wheel Replacement..........5-64
Tire Chains.......................5-65
If a Tire Goes Flat............5-66
Changing a Flat Tire.........5-66
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools (H3)................5-68
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools (H3T)..............5-69
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................5-72
Secondary Latch
System (H3T)..................5-76
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools (H3).........5-78
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools (H3T).......5-80
Spare Tire........................5-82
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................5-83
Fabric/Carpet....................5-84
Leather.............................5-85
Instrument Panel, Vinyl,
and Other Plastic
Surfaces
..........................5-85
Care of Safety Belts.........5-85
Weatherstrips....................5-86
Washing Your Vehicle.......5-86
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/
Lenses............................5-86
Finish Care.......................5-86
Windshield, Backglass,
and Wiper Blades............5-87
Aluminum or
Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim
.........................5-88
Tires.................................5-89
Sheet Metal Damage........5-89
Finish Damage..................5-89
Underbody Maintenance. . . .5-89
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .5-90
Vehicle Identication
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)..................5-90
Service Parts
Identication Label...........5-90
5-2 Service and Appearance Care

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................5-91
Windshield Wiper Fuses. . . .5-91
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.......5-91
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers.........................5-91
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................5-92
Capacities and
Specications
Capacities and
Specications..................5-96
Service
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
Accessories and
Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories are added to the
vehicle, they can affect vehicle
performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling,
emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems
like antilock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. Some of
these accessories could even cause
malfunction or damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from the installation or use
of non-GM certied parts, including
control module modications,
are not covered under the terms of
the vehicle warranty and may
affect remaining warranty coverage
for affected parts.
Service and Appearance Care 5-3

GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize the
vehicle using genuine GM
Accessories. When you go to your
GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that
GM-trained and supported service
technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-58.
California Proposition 65
Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the
vehicle), many uids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained
in remote keyless transmitters, may
contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{CAUTION
You can be injured and the
vehicle could be damaged if you
try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the
proper replacement parts, and
tools before attempting any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily
confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts can
later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.
5-4 Service and Appearance Care

If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-15.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-58.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed. See
Maintenance Record on page 6-16.
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the
vehicle can affect the airow
around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy
and windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to
the outside of the vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is
an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean
and maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the
use of gasoline advertised as
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-6for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California
emissions standards, the vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on
fuels meeting federal specications,
but emission control system
performance might be affected.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5