4 WHEEL DRIVE HUMMER H3 2007 Owner's Manual

Audio System(s)
Determine which radio your vehicle has and then
read the pages following to familiarize yourself
with its features.
Driving without distraction is a necessity for a
safer driving experience. SeeDefensive Driving on
page 234. By taking a few moments to read this
manual and get familiar with your vehicle’s
audio system, you can use it with less effort, as
well as take advantage of its features. While your
vehicle is parked, set up your audio system by
presetting your favorite radio stations, setting the
tone and adjusting the speakers. Then, when
driving conditions permit, you can tune to
your favorite stations using the presets and
steering wheel controls if the vehicle has them.{CAUTION:
This system provides you with a far greater
access to audio stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to entertainment
tasks while driving can cause a crash and
you or others can be injured or killed.
Always keep your eyes on the road and
your mind on the drive — avoid engaging
in extended searching while driving.
Keeping your mind on the drive is important for
safe driving. For more information, seeDefensive
Driving on page 234.
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Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed
to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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If your vehicle has a Driver information Center
(DIC), a TRACTION FAILED message will appear
when a Traction Control System or Anti-Lock
Brake System problem has been detected and the
vehicle needs service. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 196for more information.
When this message is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you
should always leave the system on. But you
can turn the traction control system off if you
ever need to.
To turn the system off,
press and hold the TCS
button for ve seconds.This light will come
on steady when the
traction control system
has been turned off.
This light ashes
when TCS is active.
If you press and hold the TC button for
ve seconds, the traction control system will turn
off and a TRAC OFF message will appear on
the DIC. Press the TC button again to turn
the system back on. The TRAC OFF message
will then go off. The traction control system
will reset itself at each ignition cycle.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 314for more information.
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Locking Rear Axle
Your vehicle may have this feature. The locking
rear axle can give your vehicle additional traction
from the rear wheels when traveling in off-road
situations such as mud, snow, sand, steep
hills and uneven terrain.
The button used to turn
this feature on or off is
located to the right
of the transfer case
buttons on the center of
the instrument panel.
To lock the rear axle, do the following:
1. Place the transfer case in the 4LO Lock mode.
This is the only mode which will allow the rear
axle to lock. SeeFull-Time Four-Wheel Drive
on page 111for more information regarding
the transfer case and 4LO Lock mode.
2. Press the button with the vehicle stopped or
moving less than 2 mph (3 km/h).
You must wait for the light in the button to stop
ashing and remain illuminated before the
rear axle is locked.Notice:If you try to lock the rear axle while
your vehicle is stuck and the tires are spinning,
you could damage your vehicle’s drivetrain.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always lock the rear axle before
attempting situations and/or navigating terrain
which could possibly cause the vehicle to
become stuck.
The locking rear axle will be disengaged when the
wheel speed is greater than 20 mph (32 km/h),
if the vehicle’s battery is low and/or the transfer
case is shifted out of 4LO Lock mode.
Notice:If you lock the rear axle while driving
on pavement, you could damage your vehicle’s
drivetrain. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Do not use the locking rear axle
on pavement. If you need four-wheel drive when
traveling on pavement, use only 4HI.
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StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle has a vehicle stability enhancement
system called StabiliTrak®. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that assists you with
directional control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer senses
a discrepancy between your intended path and
the direction the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak
®selectively applies braking pressure at
any one of the vehicle’s brakes to assist the driver
with keeping the vehicle on the intended path.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic
checks to insure there are no problems. You may
hear or feel the system working. This is normal and
does not mean there is a problem with your vehicle.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak
®,
a SERVICE STAB SYS message will be displayed
on the Driver Information Center (DIC). See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 196for
more information. When this message is displayed,
the system is not operational. Adjust your driving
accordingly.StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically whenever you
start your vehicle. However, when the transfer
case is placed in Four-Wheel-Low Lock mode,
StabiliTrak
®is automatically disabled. See
Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive on page 111for more
information. To help assist you with directional
control of the vehicle, you should always leave the
system on. You can turn StabiliTrak
®off if you
ever need to using the TC (traction control) on/off
button. If you press and hold the TC button for
ve seconds, the StabiliTrak
®system and
the traction control system will turn off. When this
is done, the STAB SYS OFF message will be
displayed on the DIC. Press the TC button again
to turn StabiliTrak
®back on. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 241.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
StabiliTrak
®activates, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage
the cruise control. See “Cruise Control on
page 159for more information.
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Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the
engine stops or the system is not functioning,
you can steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving on
curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface,
the angle at which the curve is banked, and
your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have to
do their work where the tires meet the road.
Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 241
andStabiliTrak
®System on page 244.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your
front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through
the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed.
Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 314.
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Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your right wheels have dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below
the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the
edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering
wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on
a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead,
then goes back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move,
since the passing vehicle occupies the same
lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief
surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly
put the passing driver face to face with the worst
of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
Drive ahead. Look down the road, to the
sides, and to crossroads for situations
that might affect your passing patterns.
If you have any doubt whatsoever about
making a successful pass, wait for a
better time.
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Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying
to steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those conditions.
But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If your traction system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 241
andStabiliTrak
®System on page 244.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way
you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten
out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the
road. For safety, you will want to slow down
and adjust your driving to these conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
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While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
This off-road guide is meant to provide advice
for when you drive your vehicle off paved roads.
Also, seeBraking on page 238.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some denite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great
North American road system behind. Traffic
lanes are not marked. Curves are not banked.There are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery,
rough, uphill or downhill. In short, you have
gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And
that is why it is very important that you read
this guide. You will nd many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road
driving safer and more enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary
maintenance and service work done. Check to
make sure all underbody shields are properly
attached. Make sure any equipment you
may need — rst aid kit, cell phone, ashlight,
etc. — is securely stored in the vehicle.
Be sure you read all the information about your
four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is
there enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inated?
Are the uid levels up where they should be?
What are the local laws that apply to off-roading
where you will be driving? If you do not know, you
should check with law enforcement people in
the area. Will you be on someone’s private land?
If so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
250

For mounds, washouts, loose up-hill
slopes, ditches, etc.
When wheel spin occurs as the vehicle is moving,
the driver may notice a slight shaking or shuddering
of the vehicle. This should be stopped as soon as
possible to prevent damage to vehicle components.
This is the indication that a loss of traction is
occurring on this terrain. The operator should:
1. Reduce speed and apply the brakes.
2. Assess the terrain properly and adjust vehicle
speed and gear ranges accordingly:
Four-Wheel High position for higher speeds
and Four-Wheel-Low Lock for more torque and
lower speeds. Transmission FIRST (1) gear
is generally recommended.
3. Apply slight pressure to the brake when the
shaking or shuddering sensation is felt,
keeping the vehicle moving in a controlled
manner.
4. Be prepared to alternate between braking and
accelerating through the adverse terrain.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is
safe and close to home before you go into
the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some
new and different skills. Here is what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals.
Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep
the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears
need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.
With your arms, hands, feet and body, you will
need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off-road driving. One of the best ways to control
your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are
some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
You approach things faster and you have
less time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
You have less time to react.
You have more vehicle bounce when you
drive over obstacles.
You will need more distance for braking,
especially since you are on an unpaved
surface.
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