My 2003 H2 started doing this last night... stuck in 3rd gear, check engine light is on, key stuck in ignition, gauge cluster kicks on about 30 seconds to one minute after the truck is already running. Had diagnostics run and came up with codes P0740, P0753, P0758, P0785, and P1860. Transmission codes?! PLEASE HELP!!

 

Here's a thing I've hear a couple of times with the truck but only once or twice with it in gear. Possibly read over this and try out. Hope it works out!




For those with H2's. There are two problems that appear to occur rather often. These are:

• The key will not come out of the ignition and therefore not allow you to park the truck.
• The Truck will not shift out of PARK resulting in your inability to move or even easily tow the truck.

Needless to say when this happens it is VERY aggravating.
There is a simple solution to these problems to get you out of a bind. To do this you will need two tools. KEEP THESE TOOLS IN YOUR TRUCK AT ALL TIMES.
For the key problem you will need a "torx" wrench set. You can buy these as a complete set at most hardware stores. Get the set that folds into a handy tool, it is harder to lose that way.
For the stuck in park problem you will need a medium (#2) Phillps screwdriver.
Here is the procedure:
KEY PROBLEM:
For the key problem, use the torx wrench and remove the single screw on the bottom of the steering wheel housing (the dark grey/black plastic thing that covers the space between the steering wheel and the dash). There is a top and bottom piece.
Press hard on the seam between top and bottom, while pulling down on the bottom piece (use the screw driver to pry the lip if you have to) the bottom piece will come off. Note that it is possible to break the plastic piece and that the plastic piece uses little hooks to lock the top and bottom together. If you break it, it is not that big a deal as you can get a new one but it costs around $100.
Right behind the key is a "button" that looks like a cylinder. This points down. If you press this, you can now remove the key. If you are enterprising, you can have someone drill a hole in the bottom piece where the button is so if it happens again, you can just stick something in the hole (your screwdriver from above) to get the key out.
Another solution is to carry a small drill bit in the truck and drill the hole if you need to (by turning it by hand).
STUCK IN PARK PROBLEM:
This is a more serious problem as the truck is totally immobilized. You will have to do something if you want to get to where you are going. Fortunately, the solution is very easy.
Open the center console glove box and using the star screw driver, remove the 4 screws that hold the center console "box" in place. The box is the tub right under the flip-up door.
Remove the tub then stick your hand into the hole toward the shifter. While jiggling the shifter, feel where the bottom of the shifter goes. Somewhere near the bottom, you will feel a round mushroom-shaped thing, with the round part facing the PASSENGER SIDE. If you press on this, the shifter can now be shifted out of park using the regular method. You need to hold the button down when you want to shift out of park. The lock is only for park so all other gears are ok from this point on.
What is the cause of the problem?
One frequent cause is a broken wire that goes to the shifter (the break is located in the center console). This wire controls both the key removal and the parking lock. If you have either of these problems then have the cable checked.

 

It was a bad ignition switch. Got a new one from NAPA for $38. Swapped it out in the parking lot and everything is back to normal. Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

I am currently having the same problem. Here's my details:
For about 3 weeks I've had to randomly tap on the starter solenoid in order to make the Hummer start. Today I actually tried this and when I went to turn the key it sounded like it was about to kick over and then it stopped. Never a turn of the engine just a split second kick as if it was going to.

AS SOON as that happened I can't return my key to off. It is stuck in the ACC position. I have tried the normal stuff, twisting the steering wheel, turning to the on position and moving the shifter from drive and back to park, tapping the safety button on the shifter, etc... Nothing works.

Further more I have a check engine light on and a message saying "Service 4WD" on top of me not being able to remove the key or start the truck. I'm assuming i need to turn the key completely off in order to re-attempt starting the truck.

I jumped the starter by placing the key in the on/run position and crossing the leads on the starter. The truck crunk up and runs... However; the MIL (Check Engine Light) is still on, the "Service 4WD" message is still there and my transmission only runs in 3rd gear. I can manually move the transmission to reverse and 2nd gear but when in drive it runs only in 3rd, even from a dead stop it's in 3rd gear.

What would make the key get stuck and the transmission problem all happen at the exact same time. I have no signs of transmission problems and the key has never been stuck. It ran like a boss driving to school 1.5 hours away but only allowed me to drive in 3rd gear the entire way back home. I had to remove the negative on my battery to prevent it from dieing. I still can't get the key out or make the truck start without manually crossing the starter leads.

Any help would be extremely appreciated. Hopefully, its just as simple as that switch but this is a lot to be going on all at once I would think. I'm all ears though; tell me what may be going on or a fix please.

 

Ignition switch fixed it right up for me. To remove the key, take the plastic cover off of the bottom of the steering wheel. It just pops off with no screws or anything. After the cover is off, you should see a release button on the right side of the column near the key hole. Push the button and the key should release.

You will need this cover off anyways to get to the ignition switch. Its super easy to change and you can pick em up for around $40 from any auto parts store. If you need any help, PM me and i'll give ya my number to walk you through it. Hope this helped.

 

I changed the ignition switch and the same problem exists, same codes as you and all!

 

I’m having same identical issue. I talked to few mechanics and they don’t seem to know what each is talking about. When I came across this post it felt as if I wrote this lol, so I’m very courteous what was the solution to the same problem, ——-// thank you 🙏 702-844-9822 u can even text me thanks...

 

Digging up an old thread? Doc will be here soon. In the meantime your Vegas Club Crawl limo service will not work until you replace the battery, and make sure you have secured positive and ground terminals, and check the ignition switch.