ABS HUMMER H3 2008 Owners Manual

Stop Tabs
If your vehicle has a sunroof, it will have a crossrail stop
tab placed in the siderail. This tab prevents you from
moving the crossrails past the opening of the sunroof
and loading cargo too far forward.
Your vehicle may have cargo tie downs. Once you
load the cargo onto the crossrails, secure it by tying it
down to the cargo tie downs. Do not load cargo directly
on the roof of your vehicle. SeeCargo Tie Downs on
page 2-59for more information.
Rear Storage Area
Your vehicle has a rear storage area located on
the passenger’s side of the cargo area. To open,
pull the two tabs out and open lid.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle may have a convenience net in the rear
of the vehicle. Put small loads behind the net. The net
is not for heavier loads. Store them as far forward
as you can.
Cargo Cover
Notice:If you put items onto the cargo cover, the
weight of the items could cause the attachment clips
to break. You would no longer be able to attach
and use the cargo cover. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Never put anything
on top of the cargo cover.
If your vehicle has a cargo cover, you can use it to
cover items in the rear of the vehicle. Remove the
cover from its pouch and place the loops found on
each corner of the cover, over the two pegs in each
corner of the rear if the vehicle. When it is not in
use, fold up the cover and return it to the pouch.
Cargo Tie Downs
Your vehicle may have four cargo tie-downs. These
tie-downs are located in tracks on the roof of the vehicle.
Each tie-down can be moved to anywhere on the
track. To loosen, turn the tie-down counterclockwise
until it moves freely in the track. To tighten, turn
the tie-down clockwise.
2-59

Antilock Brake System Warning
Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light will come
on briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it
is safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do
not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have antilock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-33
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-43for all
brake related DIC messages.
Traction Off Light
If you have the Traction
Control System (TCS), this
light will come on when the
TCS has been turned off.
This light will come on briey when the ignition is turned
to ON, if it does not the system may require service.
For more information on the traction off light, see
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5.
StabiliTrak®Not Ready Light
If you have the StabiliTrak®
system, this light will come
on when the StabiliTrak®
system has been
turned off.
This light will come on briey when the ignition is turned
to ON, if it does not the system may require service.
For more information, seeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-7.
3-34

AC (Air Conditioning) OFF
This message displays when the engine coolant
temperature is too high and the air conditioning in your
vehicle needs to be turned off. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-29andClimate Control System on
page 3-22for more information. This message displays
along with the ENG HOT message.
ABS (Antilock Brake System) FAULT
This message displays if there is a problem with
the Antilock Brake System (ABS). Check the ABS as
soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. SeeBrakes on page 5-38andAntilock
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-34for more
information. Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the display.
BRAKES
This message displays if there is a problem with the
brakes. Check the brakes as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer. See
Brakes on page 5-38andBrake System Warning Light
on page 3-33for more information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it
from the display.
CHANGE OIL
This message displays when the oil needs to be
changed. Check the oil in your vehicle as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-15and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information. Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the display.
DOORS
This message displays when one or more of the doors
is ajar. Check all the doors on your vehicle to make
sure they are closed. The message clears from
the display after all of the doors are closed.
ENG (Engine) HOT
This message displays when the engine coolant
temperature is hot. Check the engine coolant
temperature gage. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-35. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer as soon as possible if you suspect the
engine is overheating. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29for more information.
3-44

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-5
Locking Rear Axle..........................................4-6
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-7
Steering........................................................4-8
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-10
Passing.......................................................4-10
Loss of Control.............................................4-10
Off-Road Driving...........................................4-12
Assist Steps.................................................4-31Driving at Night............................................4-32
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-33
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-34
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-34
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-34
Winter Driving..............................................4-35
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow.....................................4-39
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-40
Recovery Loops...........................................4-40
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-42
Towing..........................................................4-48
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-48
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-48
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-50
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-62
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your vehicle ever loses electrical power while you
are driving, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.
If you do, the pedal could get harder to push down.
If your vehicle loses electrical power, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it when
you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it can take
longer to stop, the brake pedal will be harder to push,
and you might experience longer pedal travel.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS),
an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on.
This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. SeeAntilock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-34.
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.
4-4

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

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, the 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 4-5
andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-7.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.
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 Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-11

The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Even though you have ABS, begin
stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-4.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ne
until you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches can appear in
shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you,
brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things
to do to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers safe:
Turn on the hazard warning ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you
have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
oor mats — anything you can wrap around yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
4-37

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much
that they would get hot and no longer work well.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow
in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if
the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads
and/or hilly conditions.
If you have a manual transmission and you are towing a
trailer, it is better not to use the highest gear.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar
to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. For manual transmissions,
let the engine run while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of gear and the parking
brake applied, for a few minutes before turning the engine
off. If you do get the overheat warning, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-29.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet for an automatic transmission, or into
gear for a manual transmission. Turn your wheels
into the curb if facing downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P) for an
automatic transmission or into gear for a manual
transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-58

5. Reinstall the center tire cover onto the spare or
at tire.
6. If your vehicle has a spare tire cover close the
cover and latch the side latch.
To store the jack tool bag and jack:
1. Return the tools to the jack tool bag.
2. Secure the tool bag to the jack by securely wrapping
the straps around the jack. Then, slide the straps
through the rings on the bag and secure.
3. Position the jack and jack tool bag in the
swing-gate.
When reinstalling the jack and jack tool bag, make
sure the jack base is securely seated behind
the tabs in the swing-gate.4. Reinstall the wing nut retainer to fasten the jack
and tool bag in the storage compartment.
Make sure that the wing nut passes through the tool
bag and the jack before you tighten it.
5. Turn the wing nut retainer clockwise to secure.
6. Reinstall the compartment cover by inserting
the locator tabs in the holes in the swing-gate.
Push the latches down to secure.
5-90