octane HUMMER H3 2009 Owners Manual

Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel
quality causes the engine not to
run as efficiently as designed
and may cause: stalling
after start-up, stalling when the
vehicle is changed into gear,
misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on
acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is
warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to
turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 5-5.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer
can check the vehicle. The
dealer/retailer has the proper test
equipment and diagnostic tools to x
any mechanical or electrical
problems that might have
developed.Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on the vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection could
prevent getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on with the engine
running, or if the key is in the
ON/RUN and the light is not on.
The vehicle will not pass
this inspection if the OBD II
(on-board diagnostic) system
determines that critical emission
control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by
the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the battery has recently been
replaced or if the battery has rundown. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving. If
this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your
dealer/retailer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
3-32 Instrument Panel

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition
65 Warning.......................5-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle........5-5
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-6
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-7
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-13
Engine Oil Life System.....5-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .5-17
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-18
Manual Transmission
Fluid................................5-20
Hydraulic Clutch................5-21
Cooling System.................5-22
Engine Coolant.................5-23
Engine Overheating...........5-27
Engine Fan Noise.............5-28
Power Steering Fluid.........5-29
Windshield Washer Fluid. . .5-30
Brakes..............................5-30
Battery..............................5-33
Jump Starting...................5-34
Rear Axle
Rear Axle.........................5-38
Four-Wheel Drive
Four-Wheel Drive..............5-38
Front Axle
Front Axle.........................5-39
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-39
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-41
Halogen Bulbs..................5-41
Headlamps........................5-41
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3)
.....................5-42
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and Back-up
Lamps (H3T)
...................5-42
License Plate Lamp..........5-43
Replacement Bulbs...........5-43
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service
manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-15.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-58.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed. See
Maintenance Record on page 6-16.
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the
vehicle can affect the airow
around it. This can cause wind
noise and can affect fuel economy
and windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer/retailer
before adding equipment to
the outside of the vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is
an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean
and maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the
use of gasoline advertised as
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, you might notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the
engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-6for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available
in states adopting California
emissions standards, the vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on
fuels meeting federal specications,
but emission control system
performance might be affected.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5

The malfunction indicator lamp
could turn on and the vehicle
might fail a smog-check test.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-30. If this occurs, return
to your authorized dealer/retailer
for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs might
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now
required to contain additives that
help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you
should not have to add anything to
the fuel. However, some gasolines
contain only the minimum amount of
additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean, orif the vehicle experiences problems
due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help clean deposits
from fuel injectors and intake valves.
GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS
is the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol,
and reformulated gasolines
might be available in your area.
We recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with
the specications described earlier.However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used
in vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels.
Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the
attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT.
We recommend against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of
spark plugs and the performance
5-6 Service and Appearance Care

Maintenance
Requirements
Notice:Maintenance intervals,
checks, inspections, replacement
parts, and recommended uids
and lubricants as prescribed
in this manual are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good working
condition. Any damage caused
by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Your Vehicle and the
Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only
helps to keep the vehicle in good
working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended
maintenance is important. Improper
vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air webreathe. Improper uid levels or the
wrong tire ination can increase
the level of emissions from the
vehicle. To help protect the
environment, and to keep the
vehicle in good condition, be sure to
maintain the vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance
Schedule
We want to help keep this vehicle in
good working condition. But we
do not know exactly how you
will drive it. You might drive very
short distances only a few times a
week. Or you might drive long
distances all the time in very hot,
dusty weather. You might use
the vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you might drive it to work, to do
errands, or in many other ways.Because of all the different ways
people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. You might
need more frequent checks and
replacements. So please read the
following and note how you drive.
If you have any questions on how to
keep the vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer/retailer.
This schedule is for vehicles that:carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 4-35.
are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving limits.
are driven off-road in the
recommended manner. See
Off-Road Driving on page 4-13.
use the recommended fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 5-5.
6-2 Maintenance Schedule

Fuel (cont.)
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container....................... 5-8
Filling the Tank.................. 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 5-7
Gage ..............................3-33
Gasoline Octane................ 5-5
Gasoline Specications........ 5-5
Fuses
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block...................5-92
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers......................5-91
Windshield Wiper..............5-91
G
Gage
Engine Coolant
Temperature.................3-29
Fuel................................3-33
Speedometer...................3-24
Tachometer......................3-24
Garage Door Opener............2-42Gasoline
Octane............................. 5-5
Specications..................... 5-5
Glove Box...........................2-47
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program............................ 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 3-5
Head Restraints..................... 1-2
Headlamp
Aiming ............................5-39
Headlamps..........................5-41
Bulb Replacement.............5-41
Daytime Running Lamp.....3-13
Exterior Lamps.................3-11
Flash-to-Pass..................... 3-7
Halogen Bulbs..................5-41
High/Low Beam Changer..... 3-7
On Reminder...................3-13
Heated Seats........................ 1-4
Heater................................3-19
Engine Coolant.................2-19
Highbeam On Light..............3-33Highway Hypnosis................4-30
Hill and Mountain Roads.......4-30
Hood
Checking Things Under....... 5-9
Release............................ 5-9
Horn .................................... 3-5
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly..........................1-14
Hydraulic Clutch...................5-21
I
Ignition Positions..................2-16
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints........................1-28
Ination - Tire Pressure.........5-51
Instrument Panel
Brightness.......................3-15
Cluster............................3-23
Overview........................... 3-4
INDEX i-5