brake HUMMER H3 2007 Owner's Manual

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the
other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a
brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it does not come on
then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system
warning light will also come on when you set
your parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 116for more information. The light will stay
on if your parking brake does not release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push, or the pedal may go
closer to the oor. It may take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 294.
United StatesCanada
182

{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning
light is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), this light
will come on briey when
you start your engine
to show it is working.
Then it will turn off.
This is normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when 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 anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you do not have anti-lock brakes and there
is a problem with your regular brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 182.
The ABS warning light should come on briey
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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DIC Warnings and Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the
driver that the status of the vehicle has changed
and that some action may be needed by the driver
to correct the condition. Multiple messages may
appear one after another. The messages are
displayed for four seconds each.
Some messages may not require immediate
action, but you should press and release the trip
odometer reset stem to acknowledge that you
received the messages and to clear them from the
display. Each message must be acknowledged
individually.
Some messages cannot be cleared from the DIC
display because they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they can be
cleared. You should take any messages that
appear on the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will only make
the messages disappear, not correct the problem.
The following are the possible messages that can
be displayed and some information about them.
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 338andClimate Control
System on page 170for more information.
This message displays along with the ENG HOT
message.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) FAULT
This message displays if there is a problem
with the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS). Check the
ABS as soon as possible and have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer. SeeBrakes on page 347
andAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
page 183for more information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.
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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.
SeeBrakes on page 347andBrake System
Warning Light on page 182for 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. SeeEngine Oil on page 323
andScheduled Maintenance on page 429for
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 185. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible if you suspect the engine is overheating.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 338for more
information.
FLUID
This message displays if the brake uid is low.
Check the brake uid as soon as possible
and have your vehicle serviced by your dealer.
SeeBrakes on page 347for more information.
Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the display.
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FUEL CAP
This message displays if the vehicle’s fuel cap is
either off or loose. Pull over as soon as possible
and check to see if the fuel cap is secure. You may
also see the check engine light on the instrument
panel cluster. If the check engine light does
come on when the fuel cap was loose, it may take
a few driving trips before the light turns off. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 186for more
information if the light still remains on. Press
and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
LOW FUEL
This message displays if the level of fuel in the
vehicle is low. Also check the fuel gage. See
Fuel Gage on page 191for more information.
Rell the fuel tank as soon as possible.
LOW TIRE
This message displays if a low tire pressure is
detected in any of the vehicle’s tires. Press
and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display. The
message appears at each ignition cycle until the
tires are inated to the correct ination pressure.
SeeTires on page 367andInation - Tire
Pressure on page 375for more information on
tires and the correct ination pressures.
OIL
This message displays when the oil pressure is
low. SeeOil Pressure Light on page 189and
Engine Oil on page 323for more information.
PARK BRK (Brake)
This message displays when the parking brake
is set. SeeParking Brake on page 116and
Brake System Warning Light on page 182for
more information. The message clears from the
display after the parking brake is released or
by pressing and releasing the reset stem.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 234
Defensive Driving...................................... 234
Drunken Driving........................................ 235
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 238
Braking...................................................... 238
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 239
Braking in Emergencies............................. 241
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 241
Locking Rear Axle..................................... 243
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 244
Steering.................................................... 245
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 247
Passing..................................................... 247
Loss of Control.......................................... 249
Off-Road Driving........................................ 250
Assist Steps.............................................. 271
Driving at Night......................................... 272Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 273
City Driving............................................... 276
Freeway Driving........................................ 277
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 278
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 279
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 279
Winter Driving........................................... 281
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow ................................. 286
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 286
Recovery Loops........................................ 287
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 289
Towing........................................................ 294
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 294
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 295
Towing a Trailer........................................ 297
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 310
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
233

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They are
the brakes, the steering, and the accelerator.
All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow
or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control
systems than the tires and road can provide.
That means you can lose control of your vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 241.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 314.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 182.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds
or more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in
three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes may 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 may 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 may take longer to stop, the brake pedal will
be harder to push, and you may experience longer
pedal travel.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 314Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may 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.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 183.
239

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.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, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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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 your 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 anti-lock work for you.
You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may
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 159.
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