HUMMER H2 2007 Owners Manual

Page 331 of 570

Q:Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down
the hill and decide I just cannot do it.
What should I do?
A:Set the parking brake, put your transmission
in PARK (P) and 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 PARK (P). 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 PARK (P). But do not shift
the transfer case to NEUTRAL. Leave the
transfer case in the 4 HI, 4 HI Lock, or
4 LO Lock position.
331

Page 332 of 570

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want
to consider a number of things:
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, then
try to keep your vehicle headed straight down, and
use a low gear. This way, engine drag can help
your brakes and they will not have to do all
the work. Descend slowly, keeping your 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.
332

Page 333 of 570

Q:Are there some things I should not do
when driving down a hill?
A:Yes! These are important because if you
ignore them you could lose control and
have a serious accident:
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take
you across the incline of the hill. A hill that
is not too steep to drive down may be
too steep to drive across. You could roll over
if you do not drive straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have to do all the work
and could overheat and fade.
Q:Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A:It is much more likely to happen going
uphill. But if it happens going downhill, here is
what to do:
1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular
brakes. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to PARK (P) and, 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.
333

Page 334 of 570

Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go
across the incline of a hill. If this happens,
you have to decide whether to try to drive across
the incline. Here are some things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or down
may be too steep to drive across. When you go
straight up or down a hill, the length of the
wheel base — the distance from the front
wheels to the rear wheels — reduces the
likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end.
But when you drive across an incline, the much
more narrow track width — the distance
between the left and right wheels — may not
prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Also, driving across an incline puts more weight
on the downhill wheels. This could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when
you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can cause your
tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle
slips sideways, it can hit something that will
trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of
the incline even worse. If you drive across a
rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill
wheels drop into a rut or depression, your
vehicle can tilt even more.
For reasons like these, you need to decide
carefully whether to try to drive across an incline.
Just because the trail goes across the incline
does not mean you have to drive it. The last
vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
{CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that is too steep
will make your vehicle roll over. You could
be seriously injured or killed. If you have
any doubt about the steepness of the
incline, do not drive across it. Find another
route instead.
334

Page 335 of 570

Q:What if I am driving across an incline that
is not too steep, but I hit some loose
gravel and start to slide downhill.
What should I do?
A:If you feel your vehicle starting to slide
sideways, turn downhill. This should help
straighten out the vehicle and prevent the side
slipping. However, a much better way to
prevent this is to get out and “walk the course”
so you know what the surface is like before
you drive it.
Stalling on an Incline
If your vehicle stalls when you are crossing an
incline, be sure you, and any passengers, get out
on the uphill side, even if the door there is harder to
open. If you get out on the downhill side and the
vehicle starts to roll over, you will be right in its path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the
path the vehicle will take if it does roll over.
{CAUTION:
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of
a vehicle stopped across an incline is
dangerous. If the vehicle rolls over, you
could be crushed or killed. Always get out
on the uphill (high) side of the vehicle and
stay well clear of the rollover path.
335

Page 336 of 570

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, your
wheels will not get good traction. You cannot
accelerate as quickly, turning is more difficult, and
you will need longer braking distances.
It is best to use a low gear when you are in
mud —the deeper the mud, the lower the gear.
In really deep mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle
moving so you do not get stuck. Be careful to keep
mud from building up and washing onto the engine
cooling system.
When you drive on sand, you will sense a change
in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how
loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed
sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes,
your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This has
an effect on steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers.Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire
traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose
control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating.
And if you do get moving, poor steering and
difficult braking can cause you to slide out of
control.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Underwater springs,
currents under the ice, or sudden thaws
can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your
vehicle on safe surfaces only.
336

Page 337 of 570

Driving in Water
Heavy rain can mean ash ooding, and ood
waters demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive
through it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe, do not try it — you
probably will not get through. Also, water that deep
can damage your axle and other vehicle parts.
Your vehicle is capable of depths up to 20 inches.
Know how to judge whether the water is deeper
than this before proceeding into it.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.
At faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition
system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also
occur if you get your tailpipe under water. And,
as long as your tailpipe is under water, you
will never be able to start your engine. When you
go through water, remember that when your
brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop.{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you
could lose traction and roll the vehicle
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
SeeDriving in Rain and on Wet Roads on
page 344for more information on driving
through water.
337

Page 338 of 570

After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected
on the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the
engine and oil coolers for mud accumulation.
Thoroughly and carefully clean these devices to
allow proper cooling. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. See the Maintenance
Schedule for additional information.
Assist Steps
Your vehicle may be equipped with removable
side steps.
Remove the steps prior to off-roading to give your
vehicle more ground clearance and to prevent
damage to the vehicle from the side steps
dragging and/or catching on obstacles.
Notice:Do not drive off-road with the side
steps attached to your vehicle. You can damage
the side steps and/or your vehicle’s frame if
they get caught or drag against an obstacle.
This damage would not be covered by your
vehicle’s warranty. Always remove the side
steps prior to any off-road driving.
338

Page 339 of 570

U-Type Side Steps
The following instructions show how to install the
optional U-type steps. If you want to remove
them, just reverse the instructions:
1. Start with the side step brackets pointing up
and away from you, or just make sure the
HUMMER logo faces up.
2. For the front step, use the rst and third
brackets on the vehicle from the front tire.
For the rear step, use the rst and third
brackets on the vehicle from the rear tire.
You will notice that the side steps have pins
on both sides of the step brackets. This is
because the steps are interchangeable
between front/back and the driver/passenger
sides of the vehicle. Use the pins as follows:
Driver Side:Look at the side step with the
HUMMER logo facing you. You will use the
pins which are on the right side of each
side step bracket. This works for the front or
rear of the vehicle.
Passenger Side:Look at the side step with
the HUMMER logo facing you. You will use
the pins which are on the left side of
each side step bracket. This works for the
front or rear of the vehicle.3. Guide the pins on the side step brackets
into the holes in the vehicle’s rocker panel
protector brackets. If you have difficulty doing
this, it may help to have someone hold up
the step while you guide the pins into
the holes.
You will be guiding three pins into the holes
with the fourth hole in the vehicle’s rocker panel
protector brackets empty until the next step.
339

Page 340 of 570

4. Thread the knob through the remaining
hole — rst into the rocker panel protector
and then into the threaded hole in the
side step bracket.
Notice:Threading the knob into the side step
and then into the rocker panel will not
secure the step. The step could fall off the
vehicle and be damaged. Always thread
the knob through the rocker panel rst. After
the knob is installed, try moving the step
left and right to be sure the step is secure.5. Hand-tighten the knob by turning it clockwise
until it is seated against the rocker panel
protector bracket and then tighten it to 10 lb ft
(13.5
Y) with the tool as shown.
340

Page:   < prev 1-10 ... 291-300 301-310 311-320 321-330 331-340 341-350 351-360 361-370 371-380 ... 570 next >