ignition HUMMER H3 2006 User Guide

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn to
four different positions.
LOCK (A):This position locks your ignition. It also
locks your transmission on automatic transmission
vehicles. It will lock your steering wheel on manual
transmission vehicles when the key is removed. It is a
theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to
remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever
is in PARK (P).
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only
with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in.If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while
you turn the key hard. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
ACC (ACCESSORY) (B):This is the position in which
you can operate your electrical accessories or items
plugged into the accessory power outlets. On automatic
transmission vehicles, this position unlocks the
ignition. On manual transmission vehicles, it unlocks the
ignition and steering wheel. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed.
ON (C):This is the position that the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But
even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate your electrical accessories and to display
some instrument panel cluster warning and indicator
lights. The transmission is also unlocked in this position
on automatic transmission vehicles.
START (D):This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to ON for normal driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio or items plugged into the accessory power outlets.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the key
is in the ignition.
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Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) which will allow certain features of your
vehicle to continue working for up to 20 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to LOCK.
Your radio, front wipers, sunroof, if equipped, and power
windows will work when the ignition key is in ON or
ACC. Once the key is turned from ON to LOCK, these
features will continue to work for up to 20 minutes
or until a door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the oor
and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down — that is a
safety feature.
Starting Your Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the oor, while
you hold the ignition key in START. When the
engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the
accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
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For both the manual and automatic transmissions,
depending on the outside temperature, the engine
starter may continue cranking the engine up to
approximately four seconds after you release the
ignition key. This is normal.
When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or 18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then
stops, it could be ooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
oor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briey but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
for ve or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with this feature.
In very cold weather, 0°F (–18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located in the engine compartment
behind the underhood fuse block on the driver’s side
of the vehicle.
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3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you will be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
The automatic transmission has a shift lever on
the console.
It features an electronic shift position indicator within the
instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved out of
PARK (P). This means that if your key is turned off,
but not in LOCK, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you need to leave your key in
the ignition but not in LOCK for an extended period, it is
recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
2-18

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
.
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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.
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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