Hot temps

My H3 runs a little higher on the temp gauge than I am used to. I would like to know what other H3 owners have found out about theirs when they have had the same problem. Mine is almost to the 3/4 mark, air on, 75 miles an hour, 90+ deg. outside. The nearest dealer is 2.5 hours away and I wouldn't want it to overheat on the way. THanks.......

I often drive my H3 in 90+ weather with the AC and my temp gage has never rises much above the 1/2 mark. -But other people have commented before about their gages running hot. You are not alone.

In Chicago, last week, it was 100+ degrees every day during the week. I actually have a pic of the mirror saying 103 degrees. Anyway, I would drive for 60 to 90 minutes in stop and go traffic to get home every day while the temp was 100+ with the AC on, and my temp gauge never went past half way. It rose maybe a needle point or two higher then I have ever seen it past the half way point, but I have never gone past that on those days, BUT, I have a 5-speed manual, so I have control over how fast the engine is going. Do you have a automatic trans or manual?

Mine was running at 3/4 yesterday. 95 degrees, 75 mph with air. But that really seems hot. I have never had a vehicle run that warm all the time?

That definitely doesn't sound right. It sounds to me like maybe there was a batch of the H3's that have the wrong thermostat installed in the cooling system. Maybe it's not set to open up as soon as it should.

I have a picture of my mirror at 106... It was very hot around here last week. Mine was running close to 3/4 but not quite. I was worried about mine running too hot. It didn't blow the radiator so I guess I'm okay!

And I thought I was the only goofball taking pictures of my mirror :)

In Arizona its over 100, 110, 115 degrees and I never see the gauge go above half. Running temps should be close to 200. I would have the Hummer checked.

You guys may have stumbled upon another "unknown" defect like the CV boot issue.

I think a batch got off the assy line with a hotter Thermostat, than others... Mine runs 1/2 gauge or maybe a pubic higher at 70MPH or city traffic on 100+ days with full A/C...BTW; going on our 26th consecutive day of over 100+ heat.

Maybe if the dealer is compliant, he will change it out for a cooler stat, for you hot heads..

26 days of heat is nothing to boast about. I think here in Phoenix we have had 100s since May. Although we experienced a cooling trend where the temps only reached 96 as a high. Yesterday at 9:00 am it was already 93. Good thing my Hummer runs cool.

Another Theory to offer:

It may not be a defect. Many times (especially with GM) certain batches of cars are produced with certain specs.

Example:

H3's produced that will be shipped to the northern, cooler parts of the US may have been intentionally produced with the Higher temp thermostat's to keep the engine warmer, where as the H3's produced to be shipped to the southern states may have the cooler opening thermostats to keep the engine cooler.

Now, knowing GM, they may have botched the orders, and shipped the Northern H3's to the south, and vice versa, OR, because they are in such financial crunches, decided too late that they need to fill orders and just ship them off wherever they were needed.

If you are a gearhead, changing the thermostat shouldn't be too hard. I know there are sites that offer the different temp thermostats for the H3.

Find someone with an OBD2 scanner and read the ECT. If it is the same as the temp gauge, independently check engine temperature. This just makes sure that the engine is actually running hot versus an indication/sensor problem. This isn't a complete diagnosis for the high temps.

The temp gauge never budged above "well warmed-up", regardless of outside temp or load in my previous several vehicles. With the H3, the temp reading fluctuates (above a midpoint) depending on the outside temp and load. Even though its a long way from the top of the gauge, I'm uneasy seeing the needle climb from a "normal" position when then outside temp gets hot or driving up a long grade. It seems to me the cooling system should be able maintain a stable temp for anything the typical driver can throw at it. Next time its in for service, I'm having the dealer check it out.

Just got my computer back up and running. Thanks for all the input. I will call the dealer and have them check into it.