2009 HUMMER H3 hood open

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

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

CAUTION (Continued)
vapor. You can be badly burned
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
Do not ll a container while
it is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than
the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact
with the inside of the ll
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the lling is
complete.
Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
Checking Things
Under the Hood
{CAUTION
An electric fan under the hood
can start up and injure you even
when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
{CAUTION
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a re.
These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield
washer and other uids, and
plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill things that will burn
onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is located inside the
vehicle on the lower left side of
the instrument panel.
2. Release the secondary latch on
the hood. It is located below the
front center of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the ller caps are on properly.
Then pull the hood down and close
it rmly.
Service and Appearance Care 5-9

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 3.7L engine, this is what you will see:
5-10 Service and Appearance Care

When you open the hood on the 5.3L engine, this is what you will see:
5-12 Service and Appearance Care

Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of engine overheating.
A coolant temperature gage is
displayed on the instrument panel.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-29.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Service on page 7-6.
If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on
a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not, do
not continue to run the engine and
have the vehicle serviced.The air conditioning might stop
working if the engine is too hot.
This is normal and helps cool the
engine.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
because of being driven with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
{CAUTION
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch re. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop your
engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
Service and Appearance Care 5-27

Notice:If you leave the radio or
other accessories on during
the jump starting procedure, they
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always turn off the
radio and other accessories when
jump starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into
the cigarette lighter or the
accessory power outlets. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that
are not needed. This will avoid
sparks and help save both
batteries. And it could save
the radio!4. Open the hoods and locate
the batteries on both vehicles.
You will use the positive (+)
battery terminal and the remote
negative (−) jump starting
terminal to jump start your
vehicle. To access the
positive (+) battery terminal,
open the terminal cover.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-10for
more information on the
terminal locations.
{CAUTION
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use
a ashlight if you need more light.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Be sure the batteries have
enough water. You do not need
to add water to the ACDelco
®
battery (or batteries) installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ller caps, be sure the right
amount of uid is there. If it is
low, add water to take care of that
rst. If you do not, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, ush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
Service and Appearance Care 5-35

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