2009 HUMMER H3 tow

Checking the Fluid Level
To prepare the vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle on a level place.
Keep the engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied,
place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake
pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle for
three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the
engine:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull
out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.The automatic transmission
dipstick handle with this symbol
on it is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger
side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-10for more
information on location.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait
three seconds, and pull it back
out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick,
and read the lower level.
The uid level must be in
the COLD area, below thecross-hatched area, for a
cold check or in the HOT or
cross-hatched area for a
hot check. Be sure to keep the
dipstick pointed down to get
an accurate reading.
4. If the uid level is in the
acceptable range, push
the dipstick back in all the way;
then ip the handle down to
lock the dipstick in place.
How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind
of transmission uid to use.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
Add uid only after checking the
transmission uid while it is hot.
A cold check is used only as
a reference. If the uid level is low,
add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for a hot check.
Service and Appearance Care 5-19

Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the
coolant level.
The coolant recovery tank cap has
this symbol on it.
It is located toward the rear of
the engine compartment on
the passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for more information
on location.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant recovery tank. If the
coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, do not do anythingelse until it cools down. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not
at or above the FULL COLD
mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant at the coolant recovery tank,
but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done.
The vehicle must be on a level
surface. When the engine is cold,
the coolant level should be at FULL
COLD, or a little higher. When
the engine is warm, the level could
be above the FULL COLD level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant
level should be at least up to the
FULL COLD mark. If it is not, there
could be a leak in the cooling
system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Notice:This vehicle has a
specic coolant ll procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
When the coolant in the coolant
recovery tank is at the FULL COLD
mark, start the vehicle.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at
the coolant recovery tank.
5-24 Service and Appearance Care

If No Steam Is Coming From
The Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
Tows a trailer. See “Driving
on Grades” underTowing a
Trailer on page 4-42.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle
in N (Neutral) while stopped. If it
is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and
let the engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gage is
no longer in the overheat zone
or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle
slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a
safe vehicle distance from the
car in front of you. If the warning
does not come back on, continue to
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until
it cools down.
Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan. When the clutch is
engaged, the fan spins faster
to provide more air to cool the
engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch is not
engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise.
Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing and/or high outside
temperatures, the fan speed
increases when the clutch engages.
So you may hear an increase in
fan noise. This is normal and should
not be mistaken as the transmission
slipping or making extra shifts.
It is merely the cooling system
functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional cooling
is not required and the clutch
disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise
when you start the engine. It will go
away as the fan clutch disengages.
5-28 Service and Appearance Care

When rotating the vehicle’s tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here. Do not
include the spare tire in the tire
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated,
adjust the front and rear ination
pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-51andLoading the
Vehicle on page 4-35.Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 5-54.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on page 5-96.
{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or
on the parts to which it is
fastened, can make wheel
nuts become loose after time.
The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where
the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you
can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this; but be sure to
use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the
rust or dirt off. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-66.
When It Is Time for
New Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading,
and road conditions inuence
when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear when
the tires have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining.
5-58 Service and Appearance Care

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle’s tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip
the steering wheel rmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go.It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop, well off the road if possible.
{CAUTION
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training.
If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a at tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part
shows how to use the jacking
equipment to change a at tire
safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving
slowly to a level place. Turn on
your hazard warning ashers.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-5.
{CAUTION
Changing a tire can be dangerous.
The vehicle can slip off the jack
and roll over or fall on you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your
tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in
P (Park).
(Continued)
5-66 Service and Appearance Care

3. The hoist end of the extension
tool (I) must connect to the
hoist shaft (E). The hoist end of
the extension tool is used to
lower the spare tire.
Do not use the chiseled end of
the wheel wrench.
4. Turn the wheel wrench (G)
counterclockwise to lower
the spare tire (A) to the ground.
Continue to turn the wheel
wrench (G) until the spare tire (A)
can be pulled from under the
vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower
to the ground, the secondary
latch is engaged. SeeSecondary
Latch System (H3T) on
page 5-76.5. Pull the spare tire towards you.
6. Tilt the tire, with slack in the
cable, to access the tire/wheel
retainer (B).7. Separate the retainer from the
guide pin by sliding the retainer
up the pin while pressing down
on the latch. When the retainer is
separated from the guide pin,
tilt the retainer and pull it through
the center of the wheel along
with the cable and guide pin.
8. Put the spare tire near the
at tire.
Service and Appearance Care 5-71

6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise
to raise the jack head to the
lifting point.
{CAUTION
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
{CAUTION
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the
vehicle fall. To help avoid
personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to t the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.7. Remove all the wheel nuts and
take off the at tire.
{CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat
Tire on page 5-66.8. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.{CAUTION
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle’s wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
9. Put the spare tire on the
mounting surface.
10. Put the wheel nuts back on
with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel
after mounting the spare.
5-74 Service and Appearance Care

Secondary Latch
System (H3T)
This vehicle has an underbody
mounted tire hoist assembly that has
a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from
suddenly falling off the vehicle if
the cable holding the spare tire is
damaged. For the secondary latch to
work, the tire must be stowed with
the valve stem pointing down.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools (H3) on page 5-78
orStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools (H3T) on page 5-80for
instructions on storing the spare tire
correctly.
{CAUTION
Before beginning this procedure
read all the instructions. Failure to
read and follow the instructions
could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the
instructions listed next.
To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
{CAUTION
Someone standing too close
during the procedure could be
injured by the jack. If the spare
tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is
behind you or on either side of
you as you pull the jack out from
the under spare.1. If the cable is not visible, start
this procedure at Step 3.
2. Turn the lug wrench
counterclockwise until
approximately 6 inches (15 cm)
of cable is exposed.
3. Attach the lug wrench to the
jack and raise the jack at
least 10 turns.
4. Place the jack under the vehicle,
ahead of the rear bumper.
Position the center lift point of
the jack under the center of
the spare tire.
5-76 Service and Appearance Care