2009 HUMMER H3 engine overheat

Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as the engine
warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow
the oil to warm up and lubricate
all moving parts.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists
in starting the engine and
protects components. If the
ignition key is turned to the
START position, and then
released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine
will continue cranking for a
few seconds or until the vehicle
starts. If the engine does not
start and the key is held in
START for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent
gear damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition switch
to ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF.
Notice:Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start
after 5-10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below 0°F
or−18°C), it could be ooded
with too much gasoline. Push the
accelerator pedal all the way
to the oor and holding it there
as you hold the key in START
for a maximum of 15 seconds.Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool. When the
engine starts, let go of the key
and accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briey but then stops
again, repeat the procedure.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race
the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed
to work with the electronics
in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer/retailer. If you do not,
the engine might not perform
properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
2-18 Features and Controls

Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below 0°F (−18°C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater should
be plugged in at least four hours
before starting. An internal
thermostat in the plug-end of the
cord may exist which will prevent
engine coolant heater operation
at temperatures above 0°F (−18°C).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The cord is
located in the engine
compartment behind the
underhood fuse block on the
driver side of the vehicle.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord to prevent damage.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be
parking the vehicle for the best
advice on this.
Automatic Transmission
Operation
The automatic transmission has a
shift lever on the console.
Features and Controls 2-19

Shifting Into Park
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-42.
1. Hold the brake pedal down,
then set the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-28
for more information.
{CAUTION
With all-wheel drive, the vehicle
will be free to roll — even if the
shift lever is in P (Park) — if the
transfer case is in Neutral. So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear, four-wheel high (4H) or
four-wheel low (4L) — not in
Neutral.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
by pressing the shift lever button
and moving the lever as far
forward as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key from the
ignition.
Leaving Your Vehicle
With the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running,
it could overheat and even catch
re. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine running.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is rmly set before you
leave it. After you have moved the
shift lever into P (Park), hold
the regular brake pedal down.
Features and Controls 2-29

brakes and there is a problem with
the regular brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-27.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), seeDIC
Warnings and Messages on
page 3-37for all brake related DIC
messages.
StabiliTrak®/Traction
Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
The StabiliTrak system or the
Traction Control System (TCS)
indicator/warning light comes
on briey while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer. If
the system is working normally
the indicator light will then go off.The indicator/warning light ashes
while the StabiliTrak or TCS system
is working to control the vehicle
on a low traction surface.
If the TCS warning light comes on
and stays on while driving, the
vehicle needs service.
The light comes on when the TCS
and the StabiliTrak system is
turned off. If the TCS is off, wheel
spin is not limited. If the StabiliTrak
system is off, the system does
not assist in controlling the vehicle.
Turn on the TCS and the
StabiliTrak system and the warning
light turns off.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-6andTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-7for more
information
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature.
If the gage pointer is in the shaded
area of the gage, the engine is
too hot. It means that the engine
coolant has overheated. If the
vehicle has been operating under
normal driving conditions, pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-27for more information.
United StatesCanada
Instrument Panel 3-29

RFA 3:This mode ashes the
parking lamps and sounds the horn
when you press the lock or
unlock buttons on the RKE
transmitter.
RFA 4:This mode disables RKE
feedback. There will be no feedback
when you press the lock or unlock
buttons on the RKE transmitter.
DIC Warnings and
Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC
to notify the driver that the status
of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by
the driver to correct the condition.
Multiple messages may appear one
after another. The messages are
displayed for several seconds each.
Some messages may not require
immediate action, but you should
press and release the trip odometer
reset stem to acknowledge that
you received the messages and toclear them from the display. Each
message must be acknowledged
individually.
Some messages cannot be cleared
from the DIC display because
they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they
can be cleared. You should take
any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages only
makes the messages disappear, not
correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages that can be displayed
and some information about them.
AC (Air Conditioning) OFF
This message displays when
the engine coolant temperature is
too high and the air conditioning
in the vehicle needs to be turned off.
SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-27andClimate Control
System on page 3-19for more
information. This message displays
along with the ENG HOT message.
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
FAULT
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS). Check the ABS as
soon as possible and have the
vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. SeeBrakes on
page 5-30andAntilock Brake
System (ABS) Warning Light on
page 3-28for more information.
Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and
clear it from the display.
BRAKES
This message displays if there is a
problem with the brakes. Check
the brakes as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer. SeeBrakes on
page 5-30andBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-27for
more information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the
display.
Instrument Panel 3-37

CHANGE OIL
This message displays when the oil
needs to be changed. Check the
oil in the vehicle as soon as possible
and have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer. SeeEngine Oil
on page 5-13andScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the
display.
DOORS
This message displays when one or
more of the doors is ajar. Check
all the doors on the vehicle to make
sure they are closed. The message
clears from the display after all
of the doors are closed.
ENG (Engine) HOT
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is
hot. Check the engine coolant
temperature gage. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage
on page 3-29. Have the vehicleserviced by your dealer/retailer as
soon as possible if you suspect
the engine is overheating. See
Engine Overheating on page 5-27
for more information.
FLUID
This message displays if the brake
uid is low. Check the brake
uid as soon as possible and have
the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. SeeBrakes on
page 5-30for more information.
Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and
clear it from the display.
FUEL CAP
This message displays if the
vehicle’s fuel cap is either off or
loose. Pull over as soon as possible
and check to see if the fuel cap is
secure. You may also see the check
engine light on the instrument
panel cluster. If the check engine
light does come on when the
fuel cap was loose, it may take a
few driving trips before the lightturns off. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 3-30for more
information if the light still remains
on. Press and release the reset
stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.
HSA (Hill Start Assist) ON
This message displays when the Hill
Start Assist is enabled. See
Braking on page 4-3for more
information.
LOW FUEL
This message displays if the level of
fuel in the vehicle is low. Also
check the fuel gage. SeeFuel Gage
on page 3-33for more information.
Rell the fuel tank as soon as
possible.
LOW TIRE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a low tire
pressure is detected in any of the
vehicle’s tires. Press and release the
reset stem to acknowledge the
3-38 Instrument Panel

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

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