HUMMER H3 2006 Owners Manual

There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start the engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
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
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-28. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-59.Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift
lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
as you maintain brake application. Then move the
shift lever into the gear you want. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-30
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging your transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page 4-50
.
2-19

NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer. You may
want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if
necessary, a lower gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills
or winding roads or for off-road driving.
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into FIRST (1)
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
2-20

Manual Transmission Operation
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here is how to operate your manual transmission:
FIRST (1):Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you slowly press down on the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less
than 20 mph (30 km/h). If you have come to a complete
stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Then press
the clutch pedal back down and shift into FIRST (1).
SECOND (2):Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH (3, 4 and 5):Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same
way you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL:Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R):To back up, press the clutch pedal. After
the vehicle stops, shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. If
it is hard to shift, let the shift lever return to NEUTRAL
and release the clutch pedal. Then press the clutch again
and shift into REVERSE (R). Do not attempt to shift into
the fth gear position prior to shifting into REVERSE (R).
Your transmission has a lock out feature which prevents
a fth gear to reverse gear shift.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, for
parking your vehicle.
2-21

Up-Shift Light
This light will show you
when to shift to the next
higher gear for best
fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift
when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on
and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the shift light when you downshift.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped with
a manual transmission, disregard the shift light when
the transfer case is in four-wheel low.
For more information, seeUp-Shift Light (Manual
Transmission) on page 3-31.
Shift Speeds
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not shift down
more than one gear at a time when you
downshift.
All-Wheel Drive
All-wheel drive sends your engine’s driving power to all
four wheels for extra traction. To get the most out of
all-wheel drive, you must be familiar with its operation.
2-22

Transfer Case Buttons
The transfer case buttons are located to the right of the
instrument panel cluster. Use these switches to shift
into and out of the different all-wheel drive modes.
You can choose between four modes:
4
m(Four-Wheel High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. You can
also use this setting for light or variable off-road
conditions.
N (NEUTRAL):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-57orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-57for more information.Notice:Driving on pavement in Four-Wheel
High Lock or Four Wheel Low Lock for extended
periods may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s
powertrain and tires. Do not drive in Four-Wheel
High Lock or Four-Wheel Low Lock on pavement for
extended periods.
4
mQ(Four-Wheel-High Lock):Use this mode
when you need extra traction in most off-road situations
such as sand, mud, snow or level, rocky trails.
Notice:Operating your vehicle in
Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h) for
any extended period of time could cause damage to
the transfer case. Do not operate your vehicle in
Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h)
for extended periods.
4
nQ(Four-Wheel-Low Lock):This mode
delivers extra torque to all four wheels and is used
for extreme off-road conditions. You might choose
4-Wheel-Low Lock if you are driving in off-road
situations, such as, deep sand, mud, or snow and
climbing or descending steep hills.
2-23

When in this mode you can also choose to lock the rear
axle, if equipped, for additional traction in extreme
off-road situations. SeeLocking Rear Axle on page 4-10.
Indicator lights in the buttons show which mode you
are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when you
turn on the ignition the mode the vehicle is in will stay
on. If the lights do not come on, you should take
your vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light
will ash while shifting the transfer case. It will remain
lit when the shift is complete. If for some reason
the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will
return to the last chosen setting.
If the SERV 4WD message stays on, you should take
your vehicle to your dealer for service. See Service 4WD
message underDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-44.
Shifting between Four-Wheel High and
Four-Wheel-High Lock
With the vehicle traveling less than 75 mph (120 km/h),
press and release the Four-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel-High Lock button. The indicator light will
ash while shifting. It will remain lit when the shift
is complete.
It may be necessary to drive backwards while turning
for a distance of 25 feet (7.5 m) to get the lock feature
to disengage.
Shifting into Four-Wheel Low Lock
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops ashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops ashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
To shift into Four-Wheel-Low Lock, the ignition must be
in ON and the vehicle must be stopped or moving
less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting into
Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the
Four-Wheel-Low Lock button. If your vehicle has
a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be
pressed to the oor while you press the
Four-Wheel-Low Lock button, or the shift will not be
completed. You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Low Lock
indicator light to stop ashing and remain lit before
shifting your transmission in gear.
2-24

It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low
and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with
the engine running.
If the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button is pressed when
your vehicle is in gear and/or moving too fast, the
Four-Wheel-Low Lock indicator light will ash for
15 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 15 seconds
the transfer case will return to the last chosen setting.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops ashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops ashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
To shift out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock, your vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in ON.
The preferred method for shifting out ofFour-Wheel-Low Lock is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the
Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button. If
your vehicle has a manual transmission, the clutch pedal
must be pressed to the oor while you press the
Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button, or
the shift will not be completed. You must wait for
the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock indicator
light to stop ashing and remain lit before shifting
your transmission into gear.
It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low
and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with
the engine running.
If the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button
is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving
too fast, the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock
indicator light will ash for 15 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less
than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N).
2-25

Shifting Into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, do the following:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle by turning the ignition to START.
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). If your
vehicle has a manual transmission, press and
hold the clutch pedal down while you perform
Steps 5 through 9.
4. Shift the transfer case to Four-Wheel High.
{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. Simultaneously press and hold the Four-Wheel
High and Four-Wheel-Low Lock buttons for
10 seconds. The NEUTRAL light will come on when
the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
6. Press and hold the regular brake pedal and Shift
the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second,
then shift the transmission for one second to
DRIVE (D) for an automatic transmission, or
FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission and then let out the clutch. This is to
ensure the transfer case is in NEUTRAL. If not,
repeat this procedure starting at Step 3.
7. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to ACC.
8. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P) for
an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
2-26

Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) for an
automatic transmission, or press the clutch pedal for
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
Then turn the ignition to ON with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (Four-Wheel High, Four-Wheel-High Lock
or Four-Wheel-Low Lock).
After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops ashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops ashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
5. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located to the left of the
regular brake pedal,
near the driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal to its fully-applied position with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the brake warning light, located
on the instrument panel, will ash when the parking
brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least 3 mph
(5 km/h) for at least three seconds. The chime will
deactivate and the light will turn off when the parking
brake is set and the vehicle is moving below 3 mph
(5 km/h). SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-32.
2-27

To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking brake
symbol, directly rearward to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-59.
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. 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 you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-59.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2-28