HEAD AND VALVE ISSUE - Page 2

This isn't too promising. I have 23k miles on mine and no problems, but this kinda sucks considering we all have to drive around with our H3's wondering if and when it's suddenly not going to start the next day. That's very dissappointing, especially considering it's supposed to be so ruggid. Differentials are breaking left and right, head gaskets are bad, pretty soon they'll say my magnets don't work. THEN I'm going to be upset

Time to start looking for a second car to park in the new garage. Since there is no public transportation where I'm moving to, I would be literally screwed if I couldn't start my car, let alone drive it.

The number one rule in the media is, "Bad News Sells!" Think about the thousands of H3s running around out there with no problems vs the few hundred or so with problems. You never hear from the ones that run great. Nobody ever gets on and says, "Damn! I wish my H3 would fall apart, it runs too good." What you do hear, is people coming unglued because they bought a mechanical device that is subject to failure, and complaining that it did actually fail. Thier rant continues on to the poor customer service in the service departmnet of thier local dealer. I bet most of these stories would be nothing more than a heads-up post to tell you about a problem if the dealerships had first rate customer service. If anything, the most important thing to be taken from their stories is where not to take your vehicle, or exect a runaround if you must go there.
I wouldn't necissarily look for another vehcile just because yours might break. All automobiles are mechanical devices that are subject to fail. Some manufacturers have a better reputaion of building vehicles with a low prrobability of failure, but there hasn't been a single make or model that hasn't produced a few underpar individuals. General Motors and AM General have a high reputation of building vehicles with an average low probability. If they didn't GM wouldn't have the long list of models sold world wide, and AM General wouldn't have had a govenment contract for the last 30 or so years, if not longer.

Great post Linus!!!!!

I tend to agree with you Linus, however the reason for negative posts in this particular area of board exist is because it is specifically dealing with the issues related to Head Valves and such some of us are seeing.

This does not mean the general concesus is that GM makes a crappy vehicle, it is obviously weighted in this thread becuase all of us who are going through this are quite upset.

As far as other posts, you can see that some of the members here have also posted within pleasant topic areas and will continue to do so.

Am I upset with the fact that my Hummer is problematic? Yes, but I am pleased with service and their responsiveness just thes same.

I just would like this ordeal over so I can continue to four wheel drive without the risk of breaking my off road vehicle.

Beachman

OH I wasn't saying I need it because my valves will die, I mean literally I need a backup car. I should have not said that. I'm just using it as an excuse to get another one ;-)

Hi Guys! Been a while since I've been here~

I started reading the posts tonight and ran accross this ... this crap just worries me ... SSssoooo, I decided to go check my H3 and see when it was manufactured, the date is 11/05. It was manufactured in Shreveport, LA. I was curious because of all the before this date / after this date talk and also, the midwest problems?? I did some research and from what I find all the H3's are manufactured in Shreveport, they began production in Russia middle of 2006 and plan on manufacturing in South Africa. I found all kinda info most say the same things. So, am I to assume all of our H3's were made in Shreveport?? Is there info out there I don't know about?

I'm not gonna worry about this problem until something happens - I just turned over 11,000 miles this past weekend and haven't had any problems yet! [knocking on wood and crossing fingers and toes]
Except my steering wheel is kinda making a rubbing/grinding kinda sound when I turn. Gotta have that checked out ...

Some of the info I found is linked below. What do ya'll think?

xoxo ~Paige

http://auto.moldova.org/auto/rom/58/91/
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_May_6/ai_n13674892
http://news.windingroad.com/auto-news/the-hummer-down-under-gm-to-bring-suv-brand-to-australia/

That's the spirit Paige (love that name)

And Linus, well put!

Linus you are right (as usual). At least they are fixing it without giving anybody problems, so I guess its not THAT big of a deal. I'm still getting a second car HA

I see there seems to be a couple of different threads on this issue so I am posting again. Don't want anyone to miss another "head case!" Bought my H3 about 6 months ago and had nearly 6,000 miles on it (when the problem arose). I love it and it has driven like a dream..that is until a few days ago when I decided to take it on a 2,000+ mile trip to the mountains. My story is much like TonyM's - stopped to refuel with a tank fill up and within miles it began to act up (rough and jerky when idling, so thought maybe I had bad gas - the Hummer that is LOL). No engine lights ever came on tho. I also received my OnStar diagnostic email stating I had an "Emissions issue." Tests showed an "engine misfire" and to proceed to my nearest Hummer dealer....NOT a lot of Hummer dealers in the mountains! I held my breath and went about my trip. The old girl did get me around and back home safely a few days later. Took her right in to the dealer and am told it has a cylinder/head problem and needs replacements. Dealer says it will take at least a week. We will see....this will be my 1st service experience with them....so far so good as in very nice and accommodating.

I love my H3, but the more I read all these posts, the more dismayed (pissed off!) I become. Is this a problem I will encounter again? Will it be repaired properly with good parts? Do I have to worry that every time I take a trip (which is often) that I will have problems? Do I have to sweat it that once my warranty goes out - it will happen again at MY expense? WHY hasn't GM done something more about about this? Ironically, hubby wanted me to look at a Toyota (very reliable make) FJ Cruiser, but NOOOOO! I had to have my Hummer! (And I do love it). He has his toy and I wanted mine!

I would like to add on this cylinder head issue. I am a shop forman at a Cadillac Hummer dealer and we have ony replaced the head on 2 trucks so far. We have sold a lot of 06 H3's with only 2 being effected so far. The PI lists trucks with a vin number before 68287591 (last eight of vin) might be effected. I hope this helps a little on this subject. Steve

Thanks Steve.... I will check it... My service manager told me he put in the "newly designed" heads... so I am assuming this should fix the problem moving forward... On a good note, the H3 is running tighter and more responsive than it has to date. I was averaging about 14.7 MPG prior to it crapping the bed... I am keeping the running tab for now..maybe even my MPGs will go up...

The MPG are always skewed though, as I do take it off road quite a bit.

Beachman

Thanks Steve, but as my luck would have it, in checking those numbers...of course I am before LOL. As I have said in a previous post...only time will tell as I have no answers or guarantees.

And in reading a prior post above about those only posting the negatives..(I'd say many many reoccurring cases of a major prob such as this is cause to post the negatives). I'd like to respond to that. AGAIN, as also previously stated in several posts, I LOVE MY LITTLE HUMMER! I have loved her from day 1. I posted this after I first got her on a couple other sites as well as to how I felt that the pros far outweighed the cons (low engine power and poor visibility) on this vehicle. I just never saw this site until I started researching this problem in H3's on the internet and VIOLA! Up y'all popped! I also had such a wonderful buying experience that I commended my dealership/salesperson by letter to the heads of the dealership and in local posts. I felt that in this day and age we are all too quick to find the negatives and complain, and so I felt that a positive experience needed to have some recognition. OK KUDOS TO WILLIAMSON CADILLAC HUMMER in Miami!

Even in spite of this unfortunate event happening now, I cannot get too upset (other than my uneasiness over the future of my H3 after reading all these posts) because it is under warranty, the dealer has also offered me a car for which I did not take since I fortunately have others to drive, and they have been very nice to me thus far. And just in general...S*** HAPPENS! On a last note tho, you can be sure I will be gunning for that extended warranty!

On the subject of defective cylinder head designs I had a 1973 Toyota FJ40. At about 7000 miles I burned a valve and had to have a valve job. After another 5000 miles another valve was burned. I complained about needing to have a valve job every 5 or 7k miles and Toyata paid for the labor only. When the FJ had about 25000 miles it needed another valve job. At this point I had started to write letters to Toyota and BBB etc. Toyota admitted that the cylinder head in the '73 was a different design than other years and it was a defective design. They paid for the new head and all labor this 3rd time.Still it cost me for 3 rental cars and at the last fix they must have got gasket material in the radiator as it was clogged up and over heated and warped on the trip back into the mountains where I lived. I remember seeing flames coming out of the exhaust pipe and it was running real bad, real hot but I had to continue to drive as I was in the middle of no where. I sold the FJ shortly thereafter and never would buy another Toyota product. They knew about the problem and should have paid for all the work that was needed and the rentals. They should have fixed it right the first time.I remember talking to one of the old owners of FAnn Toyota in Phoenix and I could not beleave my ears when he said to me that these FJ's were not made to drive on the highway and I should be driving it on the dirt service road that went along side of I17.I still cannot believe anyone could say anything that stupid- it was the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my whole life!!!!
If they could get away with not taking responsibility they would.If there is a problem with the H3 and with all the H3 websites the truth will come out. A class action suit will follow.
I was part of a class action suit that I read about in Popular Mechanics for Ford cars from 1984 to about 199something. It was a defective electronic module that caused the car to just die. It was happening to my 85 Tempo and the dealer could not find what it was because sometimes it would work when the car cooled off. The car was towed the Ford 3 times after dying on the highway and almost being hit by a truck. When they got the car it started right up and ran fine. One day it did not start up and they were able to find the module. I paid about $350 to fix it. About a year or 2 latter I saw the class action suit involved my Tempo along with other Ford type cars. So I sent in my name and proof of payment to fix car. About a year latter I got a check for $350. Never expected it and it was a nice surprise.

Just a little input here with regard to a discussion that I had with a mechanic friend yesterday. He said he had heard about this problem after reading about it in a consumer report/magazine/whatever. His thoughts were that this is a design flaw and that the 5 cylinder engine on this vehicle of this size and weight is what is causing/contributing to the issue (particularly repeatedly on some H3's.) Places too much strain and overheating on the valves, which is perhaps why some individuals are on their 2 or 3rd head job. (OK, so I may not be repeating this verbatim to what he said <for you mechanics out there> as I am no mechanic nor do I know all the mechanic jargon.) Think about it, most midsize SUV's such as my previous Jeep Grand Cherokee are at least a V6.

As to the argument that the Colorado has the same engine and can handle it so why not the H3?...In doing some homework and checking specs on both vehicles, the H3 is heavier by nearly 700 pounds in curb weight. Also I know for myself when I was researching this vehicle to purchase, tow capacity was a factor for me and the H3 tow capacity (4500 lbs) is 500 pounds more than the Colorado (4000 lbs) according to specs. So one can tow more with the H3 which is apparently the same engine as a Colorado? Thus adding more strain on the engine as well. (Which ticks me off a bit too as I had aspirations of pulling a boat in the near future.) Yeah, yeah, I should have gotten a larger vehicle for boat towing! Not that everyone here is towing equipment around which is contributing to these problems - just more food for thought. Any thoughts or input on this?

One last note...I called Hummer Customer Assistance and after being rather insistent, was still refused any kind of warranty extension because they supposedly called my dealership Service Manager (while they placed me on hold) and HE said, "this problem will be repaired properly and with newly designed parts, and I will not encounter this issue again!" I asked if he had a crystal ball!!???? (AND maybe I will never encounter this problem again- but, I just aint ready to shrug this off yet) Crossing my fingers because..... I still love my little Hummer!

My take is that, it's not a STRAIN on the engine that is causing this problem at all...It's poorly or incorrectly manufactured components that are installed.

An engine that is overloaded will wear out on the crankshaft and at all the piston rods and bearings..the valve train will be no more stressed at idle than at full load as they only move to open and close the combustion chambers on top of the pistons..Granted, if the engine is working harder it will get hotter as more fuel is required under load and may create the heat that is damaging the valve seats..again I emphasize the fact that the valve seats are of the wrong alloy and that is what is failing....i.e., material defect for engine type and design.

Boy! See, I learn something new here everyday!

quote:

ORIGINAL: H3X442

I would like to add on this cylinder head issue. I am a shop forman at a Cadillac Hummer dealer and we have ony replaced the head on 2 trucks so far. We have sold a lot of 06 H3's with only 2 being effected so far. The PI lists trucks with a vin number before 68287591 (last eight of vin) might be effected. I hope this helps a little on this subject. Steve

Two questions: First, where is the dealership at that you work at? The dealer I go to and bought mine from is a Caddy/ Hummer dealer, so I'm curious if you work at mine. Second, I checked my VIN agaist the one you listed as the last of the series, and mine is before that. Since I do not have any problems yet, what am I to do, wait for the problem to develope, or go in for new parts now as a pre-emptive strike to prevent failure?

Good questions Linus..I'm wondering the same things

What's a "PI List"? My number is before too ... makes me nervous!

Although I'm not realy paranoid about this Issue..I'll take it in stride if it happens, as I know my dealer will do the best job...However I listen now for the slightest hiccup...Crap, I guess I am a little paranoid

Hey Paige

I work at Valley Cadillac Hummer in Rochester, N.Y. I would only repair the truck if it had duplicatable conditions for a head replacement. I would not worry about it till somthing happens. A P.I. is a Preliminary Information bulletin. Not all trucks will have problems that are in that VIN range and there is a possibilty there was only a small number on heads within that vin range that have soft seats. Just because there is a P.I. or Bulletin does not mean every truck has to have it performed. If it were a campaign all trucks within the vin range would have the repair done. Like I said in previus posts I have only done 2 trucks so far. Steve

PS... to my initial posts - the service writer who took care of me informed me that he had seen many in with the same problem, and that it seemed to be a common occurrence. Which obviously leads me to believe that they have seen more than they care to. This was however, before I stumbled upon this forum and discovered that this is an issue, so I did not think to ask him how many. I have every confidence that they will repair it properly <crossing fingers> but my only concern is future problems reoccurring.

I also have a question if anyone would be so kind as to help inform me. Since I cannot
Because it is IN the Hummer - IN the shop, and I couldn't seem to find exact answers on the Internet. What all exactly is considered to be part of the "drivetrain/powertrain" (I always thought it was the transmission, but am not sure) and is covered under warranty since the drivetrain warranty is 5 yr/100K (isn't it?) Is this an issue covered under that? Sorry guys, I am just trying not to be one of those ditzy women who knows NOTHING about mechanics and vehicles (including that one should change the oil every so often LOL!)

STILL LOVIN MY LITTLE HUMMER!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis


Hey Paige

Hey Dennis

xoxo~Paige

Thanks for the info Steve!

Good question LawWyfe - I'd like to know the answer to that as well. If it were covered under the "drivetrain/powertrain -5 yr/100K" that would give me some peace of mind.

Dennis I'm with you on the issue - I'm not gonna worry about it until I have a reason too. What's the point?? Not like I can do anything about it before hand. If it happens I'll be really upset. All that said: I listen for every little hiccup, burp ... you name it, too!! But, only sometimes ... for the most part I just enjoy driving it!!

Thanks Tiger (or may I call you Paige?) I am Sarah, and it's nice to see another gal on this forum! You boys aint got the corner of the market with the big boys toys! LOL

I don't plan to go running all paranoid either but I must say it makes me a bit uneasy when this happens to me while 4 wheelin in the mountains and I am 2000 miles away from home! Don't want it happening again!

LOVIN MY LITTLE HUMMER!