Transfer case HUMMER H3 2006 User Guide

Your vehicle can climb a 16 inch (40.6 cm) vertical step.
Step climbing is best done by approaching the step at
an angle rather than straight on.
Brake and Accelerator Operation
Techniques for Off-Road Driving
For logs, walls, rocks, severe ditches,
hills, sand, etc.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Do not rev
the engine.
2. Select the proper transmission and transfer case
gear range; usually FIRST (1) gear,
Four-Wheel-Low Lock for such obstacles.
3. If wheel spin is experienced, maintain steady
throttle, with your foot off the brake pedal, to
allow the Traction Control System (TCS) to control
the wheel spin. TCS will not operate if the brakes
are applied, even slightly.
4. If wheel spin cannot be controlled by the system,
fully press the brake pedal with your left foot so all
wheel spin is halted.
5. Back away from the obstacle so that a new
approach can be tried.
6. As the rst wheel crosses the obstacle, be prepared
to alternate the brake and accelerator pedal to
maintain control and avoid tire drop-off from
obstacles. Repeat this process for the other wheels.
4-22

When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or
other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands if you are not prepared.
When possible, it is a good practice to survey the
landscape ahead on foot prior to driving to observe
hidden obstacles.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns, or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what is not.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the
very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reexes, perceptions, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You
could have a serious — or even fatal — accident if you
drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. SeeDrunken Driving on page 4-3.Crossing Obstacles
Approach Angle — a Key to Mobility
If you encounter a large dip in the terrain, do not enter
straight on; enter at an angle — 15 degrees minimum
approach (A), 75 degrees maximum approach angle (B).
For very large dips, ditches, or small washes, coast
in, using the engine as a brake (transmission and
transfer case lowest gears). Then, use the low ranges in
the transmission and transfer case to power out.
4-25

Roll Your Tires Over Large Rocks
Do not straddle large
rocks; drive over them,
letting the tire envelop the
rock. The tread of the
tire is thicker and tougher
than the sidewall of the
tire and is more resilient to
impact than underbody
components.
Log Crossing
Using the proper technique, your vehicle will cross logs
up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter. Approach the
log at approximately a 15 degree angle (A) with
the transmission in FIRST (1) and the transfer case in
Four-Wheel-Low Lock and “walk” your vehicle over, one
tire at a time. As with all obstacles, face your tires
perpendicular to the object for best traction and tire life.
It may be necessary to modulate your brake pedal
and accelerator to avoid spin-out. Ease the vehicle down
from the log with your brake.
4-26

Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps:
Use transmission and transfer case low gear and
get a rm grip on the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Do not use more power than you
need, because you do not want your wheels to start
spinning or sliding.
Let the traction system work to control any wheel
slippage. The traction control system allows for
moderate wheel spin with some capability to dig in
and power up the hill.
Do not continue if the vehicle shudders or exhibits
suspension hopping. This can cause damage to
the driveline or suspension components. Improper
driving technique is not covered by your vehicle
warranty.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If
the path twists and turns, you might want to nd
another route.
{CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up
hills, always try to go straight up.
Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
Attach a ag to the vehicle to make you more
visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill
to let opposing traffic know you are there.
Use your headlamps even during the day. They
make you more visible to oncoming traffic.
4-28

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. If you have an automatic
transmission, shift to PARK (P). 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), or, if you have a
manual transmission, even if you are in gear.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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),
or, put the manual transmission in FIRST (1).
But do not shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
Leave the transfer case in the Four-Wheel
High, Four-Wheel-High Lock, or
Four-Wheel-Low Lock position.
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Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-42.
Dinghy Towing
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition in ON.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting an all-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the automatic transmission is in
PARK (P) or the manual transmission is in any
gear. You or others could be injured. Make
sure the parking brake is rmly set before you
shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See
All-Wheel Drive on page 2-22for the proper
procedure to select the NEUTRAL position for
your vehicle.
6. Put the transmission in PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission or in FIRST (1) for a manual
transmission.
7. Release the parking brake only after the
vehicle being towed is rmly attached to the
towing vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition off.
After towing, see “Shifting Out of NEUTRAL” under
All-Wheel Drive on page 2-22.
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Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may want to
use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to
do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is not in NEUTRAL.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your 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!
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All-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section apply to this vehicle.
There are two additional systems that need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant. SeeAdditional Required
Services on page 6-6.
How to Check Lubricant
A. Fill Plug B. Drain PlugTo get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug hole,
located on the transfer case, you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Remove the plug and add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of the ller plug
hole. Use care not to overtighten the plug.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
5-44

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.
{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 an automatic transmission shift lever
in PARK (P), or shift a manual
transmission to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear – not in NEUTRAL.
4. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
5-73

Fuse Usage
1 Heated Seats
2 Grille Guard
3 Fuel Pump
4 Roof Lamp
5 Battery Ignition Switch
6 Front Wiper
7 Spare 1
8 Power Locks
9 Sunroof, Front Washer Pump
10 Accessories (SPO)
11 Not Used
12 Transfer Case Control Module
13Radio, Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning Display
14 Body Control Module
15 Rear Wiper Motor
16 Rear Wiper Pump Switch
17 Spare 2Fuse Usage
18 Spare 6
19 Cluster
20 Rear Turn Signal, Hazard Signal
21 Powertrain Control Module 1
22Mass Air Flow Sensor, Purge
Solenoid
23 Injector
24 Fog Lamp
25 Powertrain Control Module B
26 Spare 4
27 Airbags
28 Back-up Lamps
29 Anti-lock Brakes, StabiliTrak
®
30 Rear Window Defogger
31 Canister Vent
32 Spare 5
33 Ignition 1
34 Transmission
5-99