Hey folks... I've been H3 hunting for months now... started out looking at a higher mileage H3X, passed on it after realizing the moonroof leaked badly and had been attempted to be fixed several times... then I found a regular H3 with a manual trans (sweet!) but it was a base model (cloth, no moonroof, etc). FINALLY I found the Unicorn - a 2008 H3 Alpha with 103,000 miles with the tan interior for $13k. Its a single owner, owned by a retired couple, and they have it ziebarted every year. Spotless carfax, impeccible maintenance records, and of course, the rock solid reliable 5.3! Left my deposit, going Sunday to grab it and pay my balance

New to H3's so what "common" problems should I be looking for?

 

Congrats to you, T80Lots of learning ahead. You may have found a gem. I hope you have. There are many individuals on this forum with tons of experience! When you ask a question about the H3 Alpha, be sure you list: year, mileage, etc. Help these guys out with facts!
YOu should check to see if those crappy-azzed original cable terminals have been replaced. If you don't know about that yet, you will. Best of luck to you!

 

Check for broken/missing exhaust manifold studs, left rear and right front; common on the 5.3 engines.

 

Perhaps hoist attachment points?

 

The Sunroof itself is not the cause of any leak, but instead clogged sunroof drains = lack of maintenance. Do the fix, keep 'em cleaned out and no worries.

All H3 Radiators can crack or leak with age so if you see/smell coolant you know what may be happening.

 

Nope, just a common failure on the 5.3

 

I meant perhaps they, or the manifold, are commonly utilized as attachment points for an engine hoist, exerting excessive stress.

A lot of times there is a hoop at one of the front corners, and a lot of folks will use the manifold in the opposite rear corner, or the bolt if the manifold was removed.

 

Yes, I know what you meant; I just don't think that those 2 points are commonly used for that. The left rear is quite common on the 5.3, in fact they make a "bandaid" fix that can be used to seal the manifold without removing the broken stud.

 

HEH.

That's all I've ever witnessed when present at an engine removal, either one front corner and the opposite in the rear, or vice-versa.

 

Agreed, but it's not the exhaust manifold bolts that are used. Typically it's bolts inserted into the front/rear of the heads.