H3 Dead in driveway - 3rd time now

[cmeinck]

I'm hoping someone here might be able to offer some insight on what might be causing my problem. I have 1600 miles and I've had to use roadside assistance 3 times. About 5-6 weeks ago, I noticed that the inside light on my H3 was not going off. The problem went away before I had a chance to bring it in. I figured everything was ok. About 1-2 weeks later, I go out to my H3 and it's completely dead - the alarm didn't even work. Anyway, I called Roadside Assistance and they jumped the truck. I left it started for about 1/2 hour and called the dealer. He said if it happened again, to bring it in. A few weeks later, after the car sat for 2 days or so, the same thing happened. I called the dealer and they suggested having it towed, so they could diagnose the problem. They checked it and then put it on some machine overnight to see if the computer was drawing more than it should overnight. They didn't notice anything out of the ordinary and replaced the battery. Last night, about 1.5 weeks after bringing it in, I went out and the same thing happened. Totally dead H3. Roadside assistance is coming in an hour to jump it.

The only thing I've done to the H3 was to have the iPod hooked up through the stereo. I take my iPod in every night, so it wasn't hooked up when the problem occured. I contacted the car stereo installer and they said it would have to sit for a month with the iPod drawing for it to cause the battery to completely draw down.

I'm concerned because this is a reoccuring problem and it doesn't seem like the dealer knows what's causing the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'll be calling the dealership first thing tomorrow morning.

Thanks in advance.

[Guppy]

I also have a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country Van on which the dealer installed a pull down DVD player. My wife and I had a simular problem with the battery going dead after siting for a few days. After a number of trips to the dealer they finally figured out that something was wired backward on the DVD unit and it was causing a power drain.

I would suggest that you have the Ipod install checked out for a possible wiring issue.

[cmeinck]

1-866-HUMMER6

[First Hummer]

Sandy I went threw the similar problems with the BCM ,you can not use one from another vehicle.It has to be new to be able to program it for your truck.Waited 2 weeks for mine to be fixed.Then I found out they charged me for the rental.

Do i smell Lemons?

[usetosellhummer]

still sucks

[cmeinck]

Tow truck driver, "Hey, I knew it was you when I heard the street name."

Service rep, "We just got the truck. You know the routine. They are going to want to keep it for a few days. Need a rent-a-car."

Pathetic.

Agreed, consistently pathetic.

[Desert Dan]

That really sucks!

GM should do something for you or I doubt you will buy GM again.

I guess cars electrical systems are so complicated nowdays that no one can firgure it out.

I hear the JK Rubicon Unlimited 4-door is pretty nice!

[Chip]

For what it is worth. I put a dry cell battery in mine right after I got it. It was clear the battery that came with it struggled to get it started in morning. Never a problem since.

I had the same problem with the Xterra I got rid of for my H3.
Week after week when I would drive my car on the weekends, the Xterra was dead on Monday.

Believe it or not it turned out to be a RADAR DETECTOR I had plugged into an always on lighter socket.

Yeah, I know- no way would that kind of current draw come from a radar detector, but it was the real deal. I am a master electrician and was amazed when I got rid of the detector and the problem vanished.....

[HummerJim]

I put a red top optima in during the summer. I've got a long history with those batteries and they are rugged, take a pounding, and hold a charge a long time when not in use (used them in my old RV with three parallel).

[Highlander]

I think you already have the answer to your own problem. Send it back and keep sending it back until the problem is fixed. Its under warranty and thats why you have a warranty. The dealership should give you a loaner H3 while yours is being fixed.Hopefully you dont live to far fom the dealership. The point im trying to make is that its their problem so let them fix it.I wouldnt be busting my ass trying to figure it out when they have trained, certified technicians to do it. Good luck to you and im sure they will get this worked out for you.

[HumbleAg]

If a door switch is bad, a tone sounds and the light goes off after you start driving (although the display still shows "DOOR"). When you stop, the light will come back on. The tone continues to sound each time you start driving. You can turn the light off with the switch next to the headlight switch.

If you drove home with the light on all the time, your problem is different, like the interior light switch (also dims the instrument lights) is on.

I've had the door switch problem twice, once after a vigorous power washing, the other after a very harsh rainstorm.

(as an aside, if there is a bad door switch, there is no way to change the display and view the trip odometer, what a design screw-up)

And I wouldn't rule out the Ipod install as a source of the problem, they could have done something that fried the BCM.

Good luck!

[sandy]

Thanks for writing me. The dealer says there are lots of BCM problems all over the US, but I have only seen 2 on this site. We are now getting the 3rd BCM for my H3 tomorrow and are considering using Ohio's lemmon law to get a new Hummer. My H3 has been at the dealer for over a week. I am not HAPPY.

[PARAGON]

We had several H2s that had the same deal and it was diagnosed as a "module waking up." Some of the electronic modules for the seats or air suspension (on the H2) and such would not shut down after the ignition was shut off or they would "magically" come alive while the vehicle was off. It would draw the battery down and leave no trace.

Maybe a tech knows more about it as I can't remember exactly how they diagnosed this but I think it ate two of my batteries.

[NoMoGMPG]

Non-OEM alarm system installations are notorious for causing system draws because of tapping into active module circuits. Not saying the BCM issue isn't a possibility, just not as likely.

Dave

[cmeinck]

I dropped off the truck today. I informed the service advisor of the iPod install. The thing is, they hooked my truck up overnight the last time I was in to see if there was any type of power drain coming from the computer. Wouldn't they have seen the iPod issue then?

Before the iPod is when I had the issue with the light not going out on the interior. This just "fixed itself".

If it does turn out to be the iPod, will they bang me for service? If so, then the stereo guy should pay. He repeatedly told me it wasn't related to his work.

Service guy said if the iPod is drawing 1/2 amp, then it could drain the battery in 3 days even if the iPod isn't connected.

To be honest, I have no clue. I'm just hoping they can diagnose the problem and I can still listen to my iPod.

I should know more this afternoon.

-Chris

[evldave]

Hey, just as an fyi, rather than tear into the dash (and deal with crap like this) I just bought a Transpod (DLO) for my iPod. I plug it into the right cigarette adapter and use all the thingymaggers to get it to line up right with the stereo. Not problem for finding an available station, and it sounds ok - I have to crank the volume, but my H3 has started every day so far

Maybe go with that route until someone comes out with a foolproof iPod adapter. I just wish GM would come out with a monsoon stereo, with aux input, MP3 CD player, with display, navigation, satellite radio, garmin GPS input and Windows MCE 2005 built in. Until then, I'll just drag around my laptop.

[psywzrd]

I believe there was bulletin about a problem with the dome light staying on. I can't remember exactly what the problem was but I'm pretty sure the light would come on when I stopped and then turn off as I accelerated. It was very weird but the dealership was definitely aware of the problem. Not sure if your problem is related but it's worth a look.