Head and Valve Issue - Page 2

That's what happened to mine. Only it started around 4000 miles. Began to run a bit rough, got a little worse, and then the engine light came on. I'm glad to hear the fix is reliable.

I guess I'm one out of 1500 -- why can't I get that luck when I play the lottery?

-Alan

I was at the dealer today and ask whats going on they had 17 come in with this problem the drilled to deep so the valve don't sit right but once they fix it it a done deal. hopefully it's the newer models sorry

I have the exact same issue and my H3 is in the shop as we speak. It has taken 2 weeks to get it done. Worse yet, the dealer's own shop didn't have the right tools or parts and had to order both! New tools! Can you believe it? Then they told me that this was the first one they had ever worked-on with this problem for an H3. They had never had training on this anywhere? They went on to say that they were sending them to Chevy dealers before to fix but the jobs were not getting done right. I can understand a quality issue arising on the cyclinder with a misfire but the lack of tools, parts, or training is really inexcusable. Maybe this is why GM is going under. As of 4 p.m. this afternoon I am told that the engine is back together but that they have one bolt on order that is holding this up. I have forgotten how to drive my H3 and vaguely remember what it looks like!

I hope they provided you with a loaner all this time...

Unfortunately you got one of the few bad ones..Can you tell us at what mileage this began at?...Make sure to insist on an extended warranty for the engine, some have gotten that.

Once agin, today I was talking with my dealer's service guy here in OKC (we became good friends as a result of owning a Land Rover)..So anyway he said his delaership has sold over 1200 H3 since the beginning...NOT ONE has showed back up for this problem (yet)..He said the only problems they've seen, are a few of the cracked roof rails and wind noise and rattles and TPM sensor problems with main Module..relacement fixes that...so that ain't a bad set of statistics..He jokingly accused me for jinxing the place maybe with my questions about the head/valve issue...Hope not.

No engine problems here, just pulled a 4500 lb trailer from kansas, h3 ran so smooth didnt know i was pulling a trailer

The valve issue tripped the computer light at about 11k. Do I seek the extended warranty as a demand from the dealer or Hummer. I'm thinking about writing to Hummer about the experience, not to complain, but to let them know about it. Other than this (which is major) I haven't had any problems. I really love the truck otherwise and am a Jeep convert. My Liberty had the ball joint failure problem (what luck, huh?) and the wheel fell off in a parking garage in 2004. I hope Hummer plans to get reimbursed from the valve supplier. Are there other problems I should know about?

Since it is the same engine and problem as the Colorados are having, can it be fixed under warranty by a GM dealer or does it have to be done by a Hummer dealer?

Hi Everyone, remember me? Of course, I was one of the lucky ones with the Valve/Head problem! (not literally) (chuckle) Well, GM agreed to reimburse me for my rental car so I could drive to Florida (to the tune of about $650). Next, as soon as I got back, the shop had the Hummer in to replace the head and all valves - labor alone was charged to GM at a tune of about $1500 and then with parts and all that, it came to just under $4,000 on my invoice! Expensive Fix!

The fix only took one whole day and a half and I received a loaner that is also being billed to GM. The reimbursement is coming straight from GM. The fix came from my dealership (where I bought the vehicle). Also, GM is working on trying to get an extended warranty to 7 years and 100,000 miles. Of course, little did I know, when I purchased the warranty at the time of initial vehicle purchase, it wasn't a GM product. Therefore, the GM case manager is looking into what we can do about this. If the warranty I have is superior to GM's, GM will extend the warranty under "their" coverage at the completion of my current one. If the one I have is not superior, they are going to contact the dealership and see what they can work out.

I will keep you posted on that end...unless anyone else has anything to share from their own personal experience on that one? Dennis?

Right now, I have just over 6100 miles on the vehicle...so far, following the fix, it is running smoothly and seems great. I am a little "leery" of the vehicle now and it will probably take another 6100 miles to build back up my confidence but I enjoy driving the Hummer and don't even know I am driving it until I get all the 'stares' from other people - - chuckle...and I say, "Why are they staring at me?" and then remember I am driving the BEAST! (LOL)

Okay, just wanted to share since this seems to continue to be a hot topic,
Keep you posted!
H3gal

Hey Girlfriend!

That is good to hear about the fix..So don't worry, like I told you before..The fix is sound and the engine should last without any related problems to well over a 100,000 miles...So keep on truckin in the beasty...Do Like I do..When I pull away from a stop sign or light, I always just ease on out and through the intersection..Giving all the traffic a chance to drool over my ride..All the while thinking to myself..."That's right suckers, I'm Bad, uh huh, I'm Bad








Stay in touch!

Hi, I have an 06 Colorado with the 3.5 and was wondering if any of you with the head problem could post the build date (date on the sticker in the drivers door) of your H3. I am curious to see if there is a trend. I have heard of this on coloradofans.com, but not with any 06's most are 04's that had problems with week exhaust valve springs.

Well i own myH3 and ur right about the ingine light appearing it happen to me yesturday and yes the hummer dealer are replaceing the engine header it is a known issue due to fact the it is a five header ingine and there having a problem getting the new replacement and trust me it is going to happen to every H3 HUMMER OUT THERE.... it is a recall but there not pushing the issue until the **** happen to you....I told them i dont want the Hummer to give me back my money espeacially that i paid it off all in one shot and this should not being happening at all the for a NEW TRUCK.. The Hummer has way under 7,ooo mileage you feel me.....
So for everyone out there who want to go buy Hummer H3 thinking about twice......

I am very serously disappointed

Sounds to me like you're a little pissed, along with irrational, Just because your dealer said it is a model wide epidemic ...Well it ain't...And there is no covert recall, that's BS...There is however, a small number of them from a specific batch of bad heads and unfortunately you're one of them. The Dealer (different State) I bought mine from, has sold over 1500 H3s since they came out last spring..They have had 2 return with this valve/head problem...My local Dealer has sold about 900 H3s and has had not one return with this head problem...These H3s that are infected, were also disbursed accross the country, so they are showing up here and there...But I can assure you they are not ALL infected...The ones that have already been fixed, have had no reports of return issues with it..so it's generally a good fix...GM will make sure their precious HUMMER name is not tarnished...So if it's a good fix and under warranty I have no worries...Love my ride more everyday.

Wow!! Yikes! Someone isn't happy....certainly understandable though...but relax, S&^% happens!

Dennis, by the way, GM called me yesterday afternoon and they started going on about the current warranty I have and laddee-daddee-daddee and then offer to give me ONE truck payment. I am like, "What happened with the 100,000 mile/7 year warranty?" and they said, "Oh, we can do that, is that what you want?" And so I am like, "Yah" - so they are sending me out a letter today. What do you make of that nonsense?? Should I have told them I wanted BOTH the truck payment AS WELL AS the warranty? chuckle...

Just wanted to see what you thought.

Oh, and my truck build date on the driver side door says "10/05"....I don't have and cannot figure out the exact day.

Let me know what you think!
Talk soon!
H3gal

Hey Girl..Sounds like you're a happy camper again..rightfully so too..

Didn't I tell you GM would come through?..I'm so gald in your case too..

That's pretty funny that they first tried low balling you with (we'll make a car payment for you...duh!) LOL!

But heck, if they quickly reversed and offered the extended warranty to you instead, you are more than money ahead in the long run..I'll be willing to bet though, you'll never need it either as the rest of truck is pretty solid..

Happy tails my dear and stay tuned here...We need a lively spirit like you to cheer this place up once in a while

Well guys i have to say that i did get H3 today and it is running a whole lot better come to find out when they were building this truck some moisture got in where the spark plugs sit in so they clean it all up and they replace everything else that caused all the problem...i have to say i still love my baby monster H3 ......
"I WILL KEEP MY EYES ON THE LOOK OUT FOR ANY MORE PROBLEMS"

Good to hear Baby...Thank goodness it wasn't the head/valve issue..

My advise to you would be...CHILL OUT..Do not spend the good times with your H3 worring about if something going to crap out..Otherwise you will not be able to fully enjoy this cool little HUMMER for all it's full worth..It will also make you sick worring...Forget about any problems that may come up, you have a warranty...Chances are very good you won't have another major problem again..So get out there and flaunt your tow hooks and be proud..

Good luck!

Well, I finally got the Hummer H3 back after the valve job today. It has been gone 3 weeks and 2 days. The dealership replaced all the valves, had the entire truck detailed for me, and put in a full tank of gas. Keep in mind they gave me a loaner car for the entire time. I have spoken to GM and they have said they will consider granting me an extension on the warranty. Apparently there is a memo issued by GM on this subject that went out to all dealers to be on the lookout for this problem. The valves develop moisture which trips the computer to provide a misfire warning. I asked the service manager if he was scared as we looked out over the parking lot whether there were more ticking time bombbs in the valves out there just waiting to come in. He laughed. I really feel bad for GM on this. They helped me out. I had the loaner cleaned and fully gased upon return.

Well, it's interesting to see that several on here are having the same problem with their H3's. Mine has been in the shop going on 3 weeks with the head and valve problem - 18k miles. I have a friend with a "06" Canyon and his engine blew up, needless to say he is not happy either.
I love my H3, but I don't intend on keeping it, unless I get an extended warranty. If they are replacing it with the same parts, who knows what will happen in the next 18k miles. I asked the service mgr. why GM doesn't do a recall and he said that they don't have the parts and they can't have 20 vehicles sitting in there all at the same time....this way, they can take them as they tear up....which is not good in my opinion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LADYDI

Well, it's interesting to see that several on here are having the same problem with their H3's. Mine has been in the shop going on 3 weeks with the head and valve problem - 18k miles. I have a friend with a "06" Canyon and his engine blew up, needless to say he is not happy either.
I love my H3, but I don't intend on keeping it, unless I get an extended warranty. If they are replacing it with the same parts, who knows what will happen in the next 18k miles. I asked the service mgr. why GM doesn't do a recall and he said that they don't have the parts and they can't have 20 vehicles sitting in there all at the same time....this way, they can take them as they tear up....which is not good in my opinion.

I asked my dealer why not have new heads in stock this way it will take less time .He said no they rebuild part by part for it will not happen again which is good.This way they can see how the valves set in place.Because if it was already built it could be another bad one.The only thing that stinks is the waiting time.

Well I thought I would post an update, finally.

My repair took more like 3 weeks than the promised 2. But the truck is running GREAT since then. I have about 3000 miles on it since. The service folks at Dobles and at GM were great. They treated me well, and GM extended my engine warranty.

-Alan

quote:

ORIGINAL: AlanH3

Well I thought I would post an update, finally.

My repair took more like 3 weeks than the promised 2. But the truck is running GREAT since then. I have about 3000 miles on it since. The service folks at Dobles and at GM were great. They treated me well, and GM extended my engine warranty.

-Alan

Dobles in Maine

Dobles in Manchester, NH

Good to hear that Alan..I have noticed that the few that have had it done, that the repairs are solid and final..So I think you have nothing to worry about now anymore.

Happy trials

quote:

ORIGINAL: AlanH3

Dobles in Manchester, NH

I'm sorry that what i meant i know a person that bought a H2SUT from them i herd they very are good .
We did only have two Hummer dealerships in Mass. and then Dobles now we have three.
Herb chamber just jump on the banwagon

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis

....So I think you have nothing to worry about now anymore.

I still have big worries about my H3... like what kind of iPod adapter to get, whether I should put roof lights on it, etc. LOL!

Luckily I have all you on this forum to help with the tough decisions.

-Alan