So what recourse does a guy have that had the cracked radiator replaced a t an independent garage and didn't know about all these radiator problems? The truck was out of warranty'

 

Just picked up my H3T from the dealer with rebuilt tranny and a new radiator. Bill was right at $708. The warranty covered he trans and not the radiator. Now the fun part starts.

The radiator they put in has a part number of 25964054 and price was $405.40. Online I can find them all day for $300 but then again dealers ALWAYS stick it to you on the cost of their inventory. I do not know the part number of the original radiator as it was not on my paper work. I will be trying to find that out. However, the service manager did tell me that the part number WAS different from the original. So something changed.

My objective now is this... find out all I can about the differences between the original and the new. Then work on GM to get reimbursed for $708 it cost me. Then if the differences addressed the stress cracks and not the trans cooler problem at 101k miles I'll install an after market trans cooler so it can mixed fluids again should the trans cooler or radiator fail.

More later.....

 

Here's an old article that I dug up from when the Alpha first came out. I highlighted the interesting part in red boldface, though it doesn't provide a whole lot of details.

Exclusive Details on New Hummer H3 Alpha: New York Auto Show Preview












October 1, 2007 12:00 AM
Yesterday we told you about the Hummer H3 Alpha to be revealed at the New York auto show. The big news? It will finally get the V8 engine. More specifically, the 295-hp, 5.3-liter V8.
The Hummer H3 is based on mechanical components from the 4WD Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon pickups. The driveline in those trucks was never designed to handle the power and torque of a V8. So we were a little skeptical as to how things would hold up on the H3 Alpha under abusive off-road conditions.
Well, after a conversation this morning with H3 powertrain integration engineer Daryl Ehrlich, we have the full skinny on the new H3 Alpha’s drivetrain. First, to swap a V8 into the engine bay designed for small inline engines, Hummer had to modify the firewall sheetmetal for clearance. There’s also a new oil pan, exhaust manifold and “lots of interface items” that needed to be changed for this application of GM’s 5.3-liter V8. To keep the engine cool on hot days out on the trail, there’s a new radiator with a new compact viscous clutch fan.
“We’ve specified the balance between fin density and cooling tubes to optimize the radiator for the V8,” says Ehrlich.
The drivetrain behind the V8 gets some significant upgrades too. The 4L60E four-speed automatic gets a new torque converter, and the Alpha has the same full-time 4WD along with 4WD high-range and 4WD Low with ultra-low 4:1 gearing as the regular H3. With all 315 lb.-ft. of torque from the V8 and that extreme low-range gearing (most 4WD trucks have low ranges in the 2.0:1 to 2.72:1 range), the differentials now have 4.10:1 gears instead of 4.56:1 units to ease stress on axles. Speaking of axles, what many would say is the weak link in the H3’s drivetrain gets some help in the Alpha: The aluminum front differential case is replaced with a new cast-iron one.
“Case strength with an aluminum housing is always a concern,” Ehrlich insists. “When the case deflects under load, the teeth of the ring and pinion don’t mesh properly and can fail.”
The iron housing should certainly fix that potential problem. Additionally, the front driveshaft is constructed from 30-percent thicker wall tubing to further beef-up the frontend. Hummer deemed the CV axles tough enough, and they’ll remain the same spec on the Alpha as the regular H3, as will the rear axle.
One feature Hummer actually removed from the H3 Alpha is the traction control disabling system. In its previous model, if the vehicle was climbing a boulder and you needed to brake with the left foot as you crested the rock to keep the vehicle under control, the traction control system would disable and leave you spinning momentarily. No more. Ehrlich says you can now two-foot brake as you climb an obstacle and the traction control will stay active. Cool.
On the street, Hummer says the Alpha will scoot to 60 mph in less than eight seconds. That’s about two to three seconds quicker than the Inline five-cylinder model. We’ll let you know how it all works when we drive the H3 Alpha in a few months. —Ben Stewart

 

i just got my truck back from the dealership over a steering issue and they told me my radiator was leaking, so now im talking with GM and keeping my fingers crossed, $700 is a bitter pill to swallow for a design flaw

 

mine cracked two days ago. it goes in the dealership Tuesday. I've talked to gm and all they told me was unless I got a diagnostic done at the dealership they couldn't begin to do anything. so I called the local Chevy dealer and talked to the service guy and told him what gm said and how it's a common problem that they've been selectively paying to fix but without him suggesting to gm that it was a design fault that they would do nothing. so it goes in Tuesday and if they won't fix it after I get done complaining I know what I'll be spending my Thursday doing (replacing it myself)

 

Hey there.
You will need to have them do the diagnostic to even have a Prayer with GM as far as getting this done for free. See my story earlier in the thread. Do not wait for them to suggest it to GM, you must be proactive and get the ball rolling now, making sure you get a file number. Escalate, escalate, escalate and as I was told in this forum, DO NOT TAKE NO!!!!

Stang

 

Dont let gm tell you they won't pay to replace your radiator. They will. You just can't back down. See my earlier posts a few pages back. They tried telling me they wouldn't replace mine. In the end they did. Yes you do have to take it to a dealer to have it looked at first so they can say it is cracked. But ask the dealership to keep the work order open so that gm can pay for it when they replace the radiator. Most important. Don't take any answer from gm other than they will pay for it. If one person can't help you tell them you want their boss.

 

Call th hummer customer service number in the earlier posts. Don't take no for an answer. Don't back down. Gm will pay for it unless you let them tell you they won't. If anybody has any questions message me your number and I'll give you info on what you need to tell them.

 

Our 2007 H3 has a crack right across the top of the radiator. Same exact problem. It happened about a year ago. A new one is about $500. I went to Advance Auto and bought plastic weld for about 7 dollars, and it has been holding great for a year now. I would replace it but had just lost my job when the problem happened. It is a very bad design flaw in my opinion. The frame in the front of the radiator rubs against it also and is causing undo pressure against the plastic of the radiator.

 

call hummer and start bitching. don't take no for an answer and make them replace it. they replaced mine wit 61,000 miles on it.