My key is stuck in the ignition switch

[mountainbiker]

Well everyone--the short answer--everything is fixed.

I left yesterday at 0130 and returned home at 2130. The drive was approximately 4 hours each way, and about an hour break each way. The rest was them working on the car. In the late afternoon they put 3 people on it, so I would not have to get a hotel for the evening.

It was a botched electrical job by the guy who did the work for the European light conversion. The cause of the problems were rooted with cutting connections going to the BCM, wire taps, and blown fuses.

Final bill (out of my pocket): $1700 + $300 (for the first botched job) + $200 (for the battery which it did need)

[Hmmm2]

Wow ... no one even thought of the European light conversions!!! He must have really done some job to cause your problems!! Is that guy in Germany? Can you locate him and present him with the repair bill? So sorry to hear all you had to go through, mountainclimber. What a tough initiation. I hope you have nothing but enjoyment now out of your new H3!

[mountainbiker]

Yeah he is a local national that works on the base. He does about 2-4 of these conversion or un-conversions a week as a side business. In most case, especially the older cars (without the things like a BCM) it works fine for a persons tour of duty here (2-3 years). His work is still probably not the safest as the connections are exposed to the elements, etc. Also, he charges normally less than $300 per car, so comparted to the dealership quote (had I went there in the beginning) of $1200--you can see why a poor E-1 or E-3 might go with the cheaper route. I will use this now as a "data point" and info my fellow soldiers about getting what you pay for.

I want to thank Hmmm3 and all the rest of you for your support of the troops and, of course, my new baby H3. Yesterday evening during my 4+ hour drive home, it was the first time I really got to enjoy the vehicle. LOL- but I did notice my leg getting tired without the presence of cruise control. (Now, I need to post "Is cruise control an option that I forgot to request?")

[Hmmm2]

Guess your experience is going to be chalked up to a "Live and learn" life experience. That was a tough one. Now just enjoy your H3!

I thought all of the H3's came with cruise control?!?! Or, maybe just the luxury model, as opposed to the base or Adventure models? I have it in mine. The H3 is not really comfortable for the right leg ...lol.. when driving distances. I find I have to keep hard pressure on the gas pedal to keep it going. Locally is fine .. but distances, uh-uh. I still love it, though.

Regarding supporting the troops .. I always have and always will. Thanks for your kind words.

Thanks for the update! By the way, f5fstop still hasn't come back online. He must be on vacation. He'll be sorry he missed all of this.

[mountainbiker]

Originally Posted by Hmmm3

I thought all of the H3's came with cruise control?!?! Or, maybe just the luxury model, as opposed to the base or Adventure models?

You know what? I am just assuming mine doesn't have it. I didn't see the buttons on the steering wheel horn area, so I assuming no cruise control. Is it on the left steering column? LOL- this has been my first real trip in the thing (and it was dark), so I haven't learned all the buttons yet.

BTW- I noticed that either the botch light installer or the new installer broke the clips around the trim ring that goes around the rear window. Joy! I am going to have to PM partsguy for a part number.

[mountainbiker]

In case anyone is looking for the part number of the rear door/rear window trim ring, partsguy hooked us up with the part numbers:

15841243 Cashmere w/Black specks
15780849 Gray
15791514 Cashmere soild

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by mountainbiker

You know what? I am just assuming mine doesn't have it. I didn't see the buttons on the steering wheel horn area, so I assuming no cruise control. Is it on the left steering column?

The cruise control is located on the LEFT side .. in the same area as the window washing and where your directional lights are. Not to confuse it with the window washing 'little paddle' that allows you to have your windshield sprayed once) moves forward).. the cruise control has a little 'paddle' that goes left to right .. for off, maintain speed and accelerate. Do you see that area?

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Glad you got the main problem fixed!

Yeah, like Humm3 said, on the stalk, there is a little slider on the end. If you slide that in one notch, you will make the cruise active. Then to set the speed, press in the center end of the stalk (it's a round button almost as round as the stalk, you'll feel it). Then when cruising, if you press that button again, you'll drop 1MPH, and if you use the slider, and push it all the way in, it will rebound. This with either increase speed by 1MPH or "resume" your cruising speed if you have to brake for some reason, and need to come back up to speed.