Well I've owned the truck for almost two weeks now. Haven't had a problem til Friday night. Cel comes on and I feel loss of power. Really sluggish and hesitant. Scan the truck and it's p0300 and multi cylinder misfires. Checked the coils they are good. Plugs could use a freshen up so I'm on my way to get those. Did a compression test for the hell of it. The numbers are as follows:
Cylinder 1: 151
Cylinder 2: 175
Cylinder 3: 175
Cylinder 4: 176
Cylinder 5: 165

Suggestions on what it could be? I'm so frustrated right now as I don't even have it registered to me yet because his bank had to hold my check for 10 days before they will release his lein. I'm using his plate til it clears which should be Tuesday. I've babied the truck since the day I brought it home. If I do need a motor, how hard is it to swap to a 5.3? Anyone on here done it?

 

I feel for you. Mine started acting up 7 days Into ownership. When I bought it the only warranty I could get was for 10,000 miles at the cost of $3500. I'll drive 10,000 miles in 4 months. Now I'm trying to fix all the problems that pop up myself. But low compression, you're bummed. I think the swap to the 5.3 is the way to go. We have a 2002 suburban with that motor. Original owners with 240,000 miles and no problems that cost more than $200. Good luck

 

Could just be the head tho

 

I'm in the same boat. My 06 with 71k miles has cylinder 5misfire And bad idle. Cleaned throttle body, maf, changed spark plugs, bought a new coil pack, and ran techron through it. Didn't work. I'm thinking it's a bad head.

 

I know the 2006 h3s had the head issues from what I have been researching on the web. I figured with it being the 3.7L I was safe. We shall see what happens. I changed the plugs last night. CEL went off and now it seems to be running fine. Doesnt feel hesitant or a lack of power like it did friday night now. Compression test still worries me though. I feel its only a matter of time before something gives.

 

Can anyone tell me what causes the issues? Is there something that can be done if I were to put a new 3.7 in there that will prohibit it from happening again? I'm trying look st my options at this point. Undecided on what I want to do.

 

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water! Bad head? Intermitten coils? Spark plug wires? I wouldn't jump to engine swap so quickly. And if you must, shouldn't it be a 5.3L V8?

 

Dont quote me, but I'm pretty sure I've heard that swapping in the V8 is outrageously expensive, and wouldn't make much sense. You could sell your H3 and then buy an alpha, and end up spending a fraction what it would cost to swap in a V8. If you don't need/want the V8 that much, then maybe try to find a newer 3.7 that would swap in relatively easily.

However, I'd be focused on finding the problem with your engine before considering a swap. It could be something *fairly* painless to fix.

Good luck, let us know what you find out.

 

May I suggest DRIVING it.

No need to get paranoid because a CEL popped up leading to a plug change. Yes your compression on #1 is weak, but maybe you need to do a recheck?

I bet you did or had the CT when the motor was cold, yes?

 

N. America V8 swap= SELL your I5 and BUY and Alpha, your fingers do not get dirty and youl have resale value.