I'm new to the Hummer Forum but went through as many threads as I could over the last few days.
So today, I went to look at a H3 with 119,000 miles on it. Is it normal to hear some slight, I'll call it "missing" when you first get going out of drive on an automatic? Almost sounds like it needs a higher octane. I don't hear it once the car gets going, just the initial 3-5 seconds.

Also, the luggage racks had key holes to unlock them but he didn't have the key. He figured the key to the car would unlock them. I'm assuming the Hummer 3's came with keys for these?

Lastly, I put it in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear and noticed when you go from 1st to 2nd, you almost completely miss 2nd. In other words, you have to move the shifter ever so lightly to get into 2nd or you'll miss it and go right into 3rd. Is this normal for automatics?

He wants $8,000 and cosmetically, it looks good with a few scratches, and really faded black plastic pieces.

 

the question is how much more money are you willing to part with after its yours. it would probably be worth waiting on something with less issues. and if your not the one that is going to work on the vehicle you probably should just avoid altogether. a forum member just posted today he has spent 23k$ sorting issues on his H3 in the last few years and is still having issues.

 

So your saying these are not normal?

 

It's abnormal when someone posts, asking for advice, and does not include the production year?
It's abnormal when someone drives an automatic, and manually shifts!
It's abnormal when someone uses the ignition key, to open accessory locks!
However, it's normal to hear the clutch fan engaged when you first start to drive for 3-5 seconds.

 

Roof rack keys are all over Ebay, just look for the correct key number on the lock.

It is not normal to shift an AT with the shift stick, so in your abnormal test if you fumbled past 2nd to 3rd, then that could be normal.

You "test" a 4L60-E AT by putting it in D and carefully pay attention to shifting in and through each gear to full lockup OD after 45MPH without slipping or shudder. Then, after full operating temp, park it on a level surface and pull the dipstick to inspect fluid level and quality.

Best of luck.

 

I live at 8700 feet and regularly pull long grades, in colorado we use our stick shifts a lot. i mean like 50 times a day. down shifting manually to hold the gear you want climbing a grade and downshifting downhill to use the engine braking to control speed. In fact i use it so often i remove the detents so that i can press or pull it into the proper gear without using the lock button 1st through nuetral are not locked out from each other. the shifter has a defnitive snap into place for each gear. there is no floating past a gear or mushy feel. If there is then there may actually be an issue with the rig he is looking at. even my kids have learned to use their gears for mountain driving. they are about the only kids that can drive a mountain pass without using brakes.