automatic transmission HUMMER H3 2008 User Guide

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is RUN. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-23.
The shift lock control system is designed to do the
following:
Prevent the ignition key from being removed
unless the shift lever is in PARK (P).
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
PARK (P), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN
and the regular brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock control system is always functional
except in the case of a dead battery or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery
with low voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-42for more
information.To shift out of PARK (P) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of PARK (P):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have
your vehicle serviced soon.Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your vehicle has a manual transmission. Before you
get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into
REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, turn the ignition key
to LOCK, remove the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-50.
2-35

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running.
But if you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-36.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle
even if the climate control fan is at the highest
setting. One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-35.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when it is on fairly level
ground, always set the parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever
to PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. SeeShifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-33andParking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission) on page 2-35.
If you are pulling a trailer with your vehicle, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-50.
2-37

Instrument Panel Overview
Automatic Transmission shown, Manual Transmission similar
3-4

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/
Multifunction Lever on page 3-7. Windshield
Washer/Wiper. SeeWindshield Wipers on page 3-10
andWindshield Washer on page 3-10. Cruise
Controls. SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.
C. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-26.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. All-Wheel Drive, Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator,
Locking Rear Axle, and Traction Control System/
StabiliTrak
®Buttons. SeeFull-Time Four-Wheel
Drive on page 2-27,Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 3-30,Locking Rear Axle on
page 4-6,Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-5andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-7.
G. Exterior Lamps Control, Dome Override Button,
Instrument Panel Brightness Control, Fog Lamp
Button, and OnStar
®Button. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-15,Dome Lamp Override on page 3-20,
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 3-19,
Fog Lamps on page 3-19, andOnStar
®System on
page 2-48.H. Parking Brake Release. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-32.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-48.
J. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-22.
K. Rear Washer/Wiper Control. SeeRear Window
Wiper/Washer on page 3-11.
L. Off-Road Lamps Buttons. SeeOff-Road Lamps on
page 3-18.
M. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-23orManual Transmission Operation
on page 2-26.
N. Accessory Power Outlets. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 3-21.
O. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-56.
3-5

Exterior Lamps
The control on the driver’s side of your instrument panel
operates the exterior lamps.
O(Exterior Lamps):Turn the knob, located to the
right of this symbol, to choose one of the four exterior
lamp positions.
O(Off):Turn the knob to this position to turn off all
exterior lamps, including the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). This is a momentary control that springs
back to AUTO when released. Vehicles rst sold in
Canada do not have the DRL disable feature available.Vehicles rst sold in Canada cannot turn off the DRL
unless the following conditions are met:
The vehicle has an automatic transmission.
The gear position is in PARK (P).
The headlamp switch is turned to the Off position.
AUTO (Automatic):Turn the knob to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Due to the momentary switch design, the automatic
headlamps may be disabled even if the control is in the
AUTO position.
To enable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
Turn the headlamp control from the parking lamp or
headlamp position to AUTO.
3-15

To disable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
parking lamp or headlamp position.
SeeAutomatic Headlamp System on page 3-17for
more information.
Vehicles rst sold in Canada with an automatic
transmission cannot turn off automatic headlamps
unless the gear position is in PARK (P) and the
headlamp switch is turned to the Off position. Vehicles
rst sold in Canada with a manual transmission can
turn off the automatic headlamps with the headlamp
control; however, the parking lamps will remain on.
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the knob to this position to
turn on the parking lamps, together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps):Turn the knob to this position to turn
on the headlamps, together with the previously listed
lamps and lights.
The headlamps can be switched from low to high beam
by pushing the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
the instrument panel.
Headlamps on Reminder
A headlamp reminder chime will sound if the following
conditions are met:
The driver door is open.
Parking lamps or headlamps are manually
turned on.
The key is either not in the ignition switch, or it is in
the LOCK position of the ignition switch.
The headlamp reminder cannot be turned off if the
conditions listed above are met.
In the automatic mode, the headlamps turn off once the
ignition is in ACC.
3-16

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in PARK (P) if you have an
automatic transmission.
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, no other lamps are on. The
instrument panel will not be lit up either. For vehicles rst
sold in Canada, if parking lamps are manually turned
on, DRL will stay on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
To turn off the DRL, seeExterior Lamps on page 3-15.Vehicles rst sold in Canada cannot turn off DRL unless
certain conditions are met. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-15.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic headlamp
system will turn on after the transmission has been
shifted from PARK (P) to DRIVE (D). The headlamps,
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, roof marker lamps,
and the instrument panel lights will turn on at normal
brightness. The radio lights will become more dim when
the headlights are off compared to when the headlights
are on.
Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered, or the
system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp system so
that driving under bridges or bright overhead street lights
does not affect the system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system will only be affected when the
light sensor detects a change in lighting lasting longer
than the delay.
3-17

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will know how
fast you are going, about how much fuel you have used, and many other things you will need to know to drive
safely and economically.
United States 3.7L L5 Automatic Transmission version shown, 5.3L V8, Canada and Manual
Transmission similar
3-26

Automatic Door Locks
This feature allows you to program the door locks to a
preferred setting.
To set your choice for this feature:
1. With the engine off, turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
Do not remove the key from the ignition.
2. Press and hold the power door lock button until the
DIC display shows the current door lock mode.
3. To view the next available mode, press and hold
the reset stem until the mode appears. Release
the reset stem and press and hold again to view the
next mode.
4. Once the desired mode is shown on the DIC
display, briey press the reset stem to set your
choice. The DIC display then clears.
The following are the available modes:
Lock 1 (default):On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, this mode locks all of the doors when the
vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P) and unlocks all of
the doors when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode locks
all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h) and unlocks all of the doors
when the key is removed from the ignition.Lock 2:On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
this mode locks all of the doors when the vehicle
is shifted out of PARK (P) and unlocks the driver’s door
when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h) and unlocks the driver’s door
when the key is removed from the ignition.
Lock 3:On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
this mode locks all of the doors when the vehicle
is shifted out of PARK (P). The doors will not
automatically unlock.
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h). The doors will not automatically
unlock.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) Feedback
This feature allows you to program the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) feedback to a preferred setting.
To set your choice for this feature:
1. With the engine off, turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
Do not remove the key from the ignition.
2. Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the
RKE transmitter at the same time. Hold both
buttons until the DIC display shows the current RKE
feedback mode.
3-42

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, the computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in front of you, you will not have time to apply the brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
rmly and let antilock work for you. You might feel the
brakes vibrate or notice some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS) that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only if it senses that any
of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, the system applies the brakes to limit
wheel spin and also reduces engine power. You may feel
or hear the system working, but this is normal.
The Traction Control System may operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When this happens, you may
notice a reduction in acceleration or a pumping sound.
This is normal and doesn’t mean there’s a problem with
your vehicle. Examples of these conditions include hard
acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of
the transmission or driving on rough roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.
If your vehicle has a Driver information Center (DIC),
a TRACTION FAULT 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 3-43
for more information.
4-5