Firstly, I have been staring at the TPMS message for 2 months now and my key fobs have only been working intermittantly. Apparently the GPS/radar detector and cell phone charger have been draining the battery and/or emitting RF that affected the TPMS/key fobs (both RF devices). The codes are cleared and the fobs work fine, so far... While waiting for the service I took the opportunity to drive the Alpha. Overall, I like the power and serviceability under the hood, but it didn't feel as strong as my wife's '04 'burbs. I guess it still needed breaking in and maybe it's tuned differently? Is the trans the same on the Alpha as the I5 H3? I would like to trade the burb's next year and give the wife my H3 sans the rims and brushguard..

 

glad to hear you got it back,is the alpha any more powerful then what you got

 

It's definitely stronger and torquier, but by not as great as a margin as I would have expected. I didn't get to drive too long, so I can't really give a full review...I do know I would like to have one...

 

Same auto trans in both the I5 and Alpha: Hydra-Matic 4L60-E 4-speed automatic

 

maybe they ought to put a 5 speed auto in it,that would rock

 

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I believe that long-term, the I5 will turn out to be a more reliable engine.

 

While I was having my H3 serviced, I met a fellow oilfield worker on his way back to LA having his new H2 serviced. He traded his H3 in on it in CO (where he works) He said his 3.5 I5 struggled too much in the mtn's and high altitude of CO and had to scream the engine to 4.5k+ rpms to keep up. Can any high altitude, mtn dwelling H3 owners weigh in impressions of the H3 at altitude? I know I saw a ton of Jeeps when I lived in Denver years ago and it didn't seem to be a huge issue. Is the H3's power curve and gearing not very suitable for these conditions, or is was it unrealistic expectations of the guy I met?

 

Along those lines,I wonder if PCM tuning restores/improves the charge densitiy at these higher altitudes to the point that it is not an issue at all.