another transfercase issue

[atvspeed4]

I currently have a yellow 2006 hummer h3 adventure. Ive owned two more before this one same year. My last 06 had the head replaced and also when I was wheeling I noticed that it felt like the transfercase would not lock even in 4 lo it felt like I was in 4 lo open center diff. After a ton of fighting with the old dealer they took it apart and found the common issue with the plastic shift fork having been destroyed. I have a aftermarket warranty with my current hummer and they will pay to fix it but I need to prove that its not working. I did a test and put it into 4lo and on dry pavement turned the steering to lock and was able drive in a tight circle without any feeling of binding or tire slip. How can I prove this to my local hummer dealer though?

I am headed on a three day trip in two weeks and really need 4lo locked to work.

 

[06 H3]

that is gonna be tough to prove to people who dont off road and know the feeling of what 4lo is.

 

[alrock]

I'm sure someone here will have a good test. For me, I had an agreement with my dealer: take it apart and if I'm wrong I'll pay; if you are wrong then you/warranty pays (assuming they promised warranty work of some type if applicable).

Maybe you have a snowy hill around?

[video=youtube;RcRBYpccP6g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRBYpccP6g&feature=fvsr[/video]

 

[reaper]

You should be able to lift the vehicle while it's unlocked, and have one person hold one rear wheel. One wheel should get the power and you should be able to effectively resist the other wheel turning. Then repeat with it locked, and you should not be able to effectively resist. This should be pretty easy to do with the lift at the dealer if they're cooperative.

 

[Sennin]

As I understand it the O.P is talking about the centre diff lock, so the best way would be to lift both the front or back weels off the ground, in lo range with centre diff lock on the hummer would simply drive off the lift block. but if the locker is not working the wheels in te air would just spin (path of least resistance)

 

[atvspeed4]

Ended up jacking up the rear on a rolling floor jack just till the rear tires came off. I put it in 4lo and locked the rear diff and then slowly let off the clutch. Rear tires moved but no front. Its at the hummer dealer now waiting to see what the tech finds. My rear pinion seems to be leaking too.

 

[alrock]

Glad you could prove the issue. Good luck with the repairs.

 

[atvspeed4]

So whats it like offroading with a transfercase that locks? Of the three h3's Ive owned and wheeled all three were 2006 models and all three had bad plastic shift forks. My last h3 I had wheeled everywhere with it relying on just the traction system to help. When I ended up having the plastic fork replaced I traded it in two weeks later. Ive never offroaded an h3 that had a locking transfercase... Im excited!

 

[alrock]

haha, I think you'll enjoy it. I once high centered myself on a large boulder in a sandy streambed in front of a large group of non-Hummer owners. I was barely on the rock but I couldn't get the truck to move forward - tires were spinning. After about two minutes of rocking, gassing, etc. I realized I had it in 4 high and a quick change to 4 low lock fixed everything. I moved right off that rock :emb:

 

[Pappibri]

I had to utilize it out in the dunes on my last trip... Got sunk down a wee bit, and I know better to just sit and spin, so I put the ole boy in 4low and pulled right out...

 

[atvspeed4]

I got a call this morning before work to come pick up the h3, they said they could not duplicate the concern under normal driving conditions. I asked what those were and they said conditions experienced in the parking lot or on the road. I felt like trying to park on top of a new cadillac to prove the thing was not working. We took it for a ride in the parking lot with the tech watching and the service manager put it in 4 lo and he drove around the parking lot. The tech goes "see its working, you can hear it working" I told him yep its in low range but the center diff is not locked! I had the service manager turn the wheel to lock and drive around in circles and it did not bind or chirp the tires. He then goes "oh well it worked yesterday" so hopefully they figure that out. They are replacing my pinion seal that is leaking.

 

[alrock]

They really don't want to tear into this transfer case, do they?

 

[SC_Hummer_Guy]

I got a call this morning before work to come pick up the h3, they said they could not duplicate the concern under normal driving conditions. I asked what those were and they said conditions experienced in the parking lot or on the road. I felt like trying to park on top of a new cadillac to prove the thing was not working. We took it for a ride in the parking lot with the tech watching and the service manager put it in 4 lo and he drove around the parking lot. The tech goes "see its working, you can hear it working" I told him yep its in low range but the center diff is not locked! I had the service manager turn the wheel to lock and drive around in circles and it did not bind or chirp the tires. He then goes "oh well it worked yesterday" so hopefully they figure that out. They are replacing my pinion seal that is leaking.

Wow and I thought the stealership here in Summerville, SC was bad! That's just inexcusable the way they are handling it!

 

[reaper]

Is there another dealership close enough that could service it for you under your warranty?

 

[atvspeed4]

No other dealership I would trust, not sure what is going on. I have used them for years without an issue. They always have taken care of me. Ever since they stopped selling hummers its been harder and harder.

 

[SC_Hummer_Guy]

No other dealership I would trust, not sure what is going on. I have used them for years without an issue. They always have taken care of me. Ever since they stopped selling hummers its been harder and harder.

That's sound like the situation down here in SC. Ever since Hummer went out the door, people are scared and not wanting to service my truck when I do end up having to go to them! It's a giant pain in my A$$.

Sorry they are just treating ya like crap best of luck finding someone there who will!

 

[atvspeed4]

Well last night they called and said that they needed to pull the transfercase and take it apart to see what/ if anything was wrong. The catch was if they took it apart and it was okay I needed to pay for everything. I went down there tonight and they had it all apart and they found that the plastic shifter fork was junk and also the gear/ collar that slided back and forth. I was probably the most excited guy ever to hear it was destroyed because he said the warranty should cover everything. Other than the fact that they are the cheapest, no one should ever buy a 2006 H3. Of the three of them I have owned, all had bad heads, all had plastic shifter forks and all had 14mm tierods. The worst part about this 06 is that I threw a check engine light several times that signified a bad head and they did a test that showed minor leak by but they wont replace the head until it gets real bad.

Sorry for the rant/

 

[kflips]

Rant away

 

[alrock]

Glad you are getting it fixed, though maybe you should stop buying 06 H3s

 

[atvspeed4]

Glad you are getting it fixed, though maybe you should stop buying 06 H3s

I know I know just comes down to $$ and availability. I wanted a 5 speed and it was one of two that were on the east coast. Now I wish I had an automatic. The clutch in these things is just too undersized when you are in stop and go traffic all the time and exceed the tow ratings about once a month...:shame:

 

[bebe]

Well last night they called and said that they needed to pull the transfercase and take it apart to see what/ if anything was wrong. The catch was if they took it apart and it was okay I needed to pay for everything. I went down there tonight and they had it all apart and they found that the plastic shifter fork was junk and also the gear/ collar that slided back and forth. I was probably the most excited guy ever to hear it was destroyed because he said the warranty should cover everything. Other than the fact that they are the cheapest, no one should ever buy a 2006 H3. Of the three of them I have owned, all had bad heads, all had plastic shifter forks and all had 14mm tierods. The worst part about this 06 is that I threw a check engine light several times that signified a bad head and they did a test that showed minor leak by but they wont replace the head until it gets real bad.

Sorry for the rant/

I have a 2006
130K - no head issues, no plastic shift fork broken I've broken EVERYTHING else - not the shift fork

However, my 2008 JUST had the head replaced and it's having t-case issues and has never been wheeled.


Don't generalize....I get the rant...but other people who are shopping for H3's are reading these forums, and if you start saying no one should ever buy a 2006 H3, how will I ever sell mine? (no, not selling, just making a point).

 

[06 H3]

Im with Bebe. while my 06 has had the head issue I haven't had many other problems at 92k. just squeaks and creaks every so often

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[poncho1965]

'06 automatic here, no issues with head or shift fork as of yet. Only 35k miles though

 

[atvspeed4]

I have a 2006
130K - no head issues, no plastic shift fork broken I've broken EVERYTHING else - not the shift fork

However, my 2008 JUST had the head replaced and it's having t-case issues and has never been wheeled.


Don't generalize....I get the rant...but other people who are shopping for H3's are reading these forums, and if you start saying no one should ever buy a 2006 H3, how will I ever sell mine? (no, not selling, just making a point).

I respect what your saying but I still would be extremely cautious of anyone buying a 2006. The three I owned all had the same issues, do a google search for h3 head issues and you will be there for hours reading. With the shifter fork I would not be surprised if more people have faulty plastic and do not realize it. I had no codes, it easily shifted between 4lo, 4 hi lock and all wheel drive and I could offroad most places without even noticing it. I am just concerned that some younger kid will save up just enough to buy the h3 they always dreamed of and then be stuck footing the bill on replacing the head, shifter fork and tierods. I know that may seem a little far fetched but that was the situation I was pressed with when I bought my first h3. Im glad I am in a better place now and have an extended warranty but people really need to check into a 2006 to see if the head has been replaced/ test for leak by, also to test if the fork is good you should put it in 4lo and carefully drive on dry pavement and see if you feel any binding like you should if you slightly turn the wheel.

 

[4speedfunk]

I think over time you'll see H3's becoming a "club" vehicle. Since nobody will service them, it will be up to us (owners) to do all of our own work. You either learn to work on em yourself, or you stick it in the front yard and sell it for $2000 with a dash-full of warning lights, a warped head, and a blown front axle. Basically...you're either IN the club or your OUT. But I warn you...those of us that are IN...are going to prey on the frustration of those that are OUT! Knowing this ahead of time, and being completely un-wavered by working on it...I long for the days when I can pick-up an H3 for cheap and really go ape on the mods! So as a predator...I agree. = The H3 is a complete turd and you should sell it immediately and cut your losses!

Now, where did you say you lived? :shifty:


Seriously. Many of the parts-failure trends that have been ignored by GM are recognized by the online community. The pool of knowledge on the forums (both fact and opinion) is worth way more than any response you're gonna get from a dealer. Hummer is GM's bastard child from a drunken spring-break affair, and now that they're back home and sober again...they want nothing to do with it. (yes...I occasionally watch Maury Povich). If you do get some help or even better, (a warranty claim)...then you're doing good. My advice is to get educate yourself about your rig, and don't be afraid to tear stuff apart...especially the mechanical parts.