Okay ... I'm calling GM now.

[Hmmm2]

Re: Rear right axle grind sound with periodic whine .... thanks to ALL of you had tried the quick stop in your 3's for me and offered me suggestions. I just got back from the dealer /service dept ... took the test drive AGAIN with the Service Mgr. They had mine for 10 days this go around and said they couldn't find any problem. He said they took apart (?)the axle, looked at the rear wheels again, and the crossbars (?!) .. no problem. He said they called Hummer Assist and was told that if they checked what they said they checked, then .... "Some H3's just have that grind sound". I told him, "Looks like I'll have to call GM myself and see if they could send someone out, because the dealership just doesn't seem to know the Hummer product very well." He looked at me and said to try if I think it'll help. I left my 3 there. :( Tomorrow they will paint the hood and hood boxes. <grrrrr> Of course, during the test drive the sound was still there, as he told me it would be. I think someone here had posted this number to call for GM: 866-790-5600. Wish me luck.

[hmrlvr]

Good Luck!

[marin8703]

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

[Hmmm2]

I spoke to the Hummer Division of GM two hours ago. I capsulized everything that the H3 has gone in for so far to the service department up to date .. then I detailed her with the latest unresolved problem, which began on June 6. The dealer had the 3, SO FAR, for 23 days from June 6 to today, July 10. With the hood painting now, they will have it an additional 3-4 days in addition. :( She 'sort of' hinted to me that dealership may not be "Hummer-savvy" and would I want to consider taking it to another dealer who has had more experience with Hummers. I told her that doesn't sound very encouraging .. to have a dealership SELL Hummer's, but not have the knowledge to repair them effieciently? I told her driving a distance to another dealer would not be convenient and that I'd REALLY like to have a Hummer rep look at my 3, or, at the very least, talk/walk the service mgr through my problem. She's going to call me tomorrow after she talks to my service mgr at the dealer and the regional Hummer rep (who also REALLY specializes in Cadillac's. AGH!) I said that my biggest concern is that this problem may escalate to something serious downline. She agreed and told me that as the very least, they may be able to give me an extended warranty on certain components, in case I have serious problems later with this grinding. I don't live in a small town .. <laughing> ... this shouldn't be happening. I'll update what happens tomorrow. Thanks again for your support.

[ShortBus]

I think that you could probably talk the 5086 people on this forum to complain to GM about that dealership. That would get some attention.;)

[Bully13]

I'm sure GM would love to hear from DirkDiggler and Frankenstien

[ShortBus]

Maybe we won't use the forum to forward the complaints, but you could post the info about the dealership and let nature take it's course. These guys do drive by's for bad EBAY deals. Bashing a bad dealership would just be fun for 'em. Just hope that it gets better and not burned down.:D

[Steve - SanJose]

Sometimes you just wish it would blow up, making it easier to diagnose.:)

S.

[usetosellhummer]

Don't give up! and keep pushin up the ladder. Try to find out the GM reps number. You start buggin him and things will happen. I know that threating to paint you truck with a big lemon and roll up to the tv news is always a great bluff. Call every day on the truck and get a meeeting with the dealership owner, GM, anyone! gotta keep pushin

[Desert Dan]

Good Luck!
Push to get a whole new complete rear axle housing ...all new from flange to flange

[NoMoGMPG]

Good Luck!
Push to get a whole new complete rear axle housing ...all new from flange to flange

This will be the likely outcome anyway, given the slew of issues others have had with the differentials.

[Hmmm2]

I can only hope. I didn't get the 'promised' call back from GM/Hummer this morning. Sooo, I called back and left a message. The woman called me back an hour later apologizing, but that she was told she had to speak to the service writer who was handling the paperwork for my H3... so she wanted to wait before calling me back. I told her the the service writer only typed up what the service mgr had told her to input into the computer and didn't know the story. Longer story somewhat shorter .. she asked if I had wanted to 'escalate' my issue to the next step. I said "Absolutely!" I told her what I REALLY want while the 3 is at the dealer having the hood+ painted is to have a Hummer rep go and check out my problem. The service mgr at the dealer had already told me yesterday that as far as they are concerned, the grind is normal and that's that. :mad: I'll keep you posted.

[Steve - SanJose]

Good luck with this one.

S.

[Idaho-Hummer]

Good luck with this one.

S.

x2

[Hmmm2]

Thanks for the support. Got another call from GM/Hummer 2 hours ago. They spoke to the dealer Serv. Mgr. He said he test drove a new 2006 H3 and another H3 in for servicing - both made the grind sound in the rear. I'm so frustrated and not in the mood for all of this stuff. GM/Hummer said the Regional Hummer Rep will be contacting me by the end of the week. I think I should be getting back my 3 in a couple of days after the painting. I was also thinking about all of the OnStar and XM time I had pre-paid for on my 3 and not being able to use. My loaner doesn't have either. <grrrrrrrrrrrrr>

[Sewie]

He said he test drove a new 2006 H3 and another H3 in for servicing - both made the grind sound in the rear.

Did you ever bother to test this yourself?

[ShortBus]

I have driven a few 3's and never heard anything that I would call a grinding sound coming from the rear. The fact that a service guy would describe it as that, validates your complaint. Trade in on a 2??:D

[Hmmm2]

I had driven two other 3's last week ...no grind sound. I have not returned to the dealer yet (I will when I get my 3 back), but WILL tell the Serv. Mgr. that I want to test drive a new H3 so that I can hear the grind he is talking about. My grind didn't begin until 9 months. Trade in my 3 for a 2? Not in the cards right now ... but is hopefully in long range plans. :D

[rangerross]

In an earlier post you had regarding this problem you indicated that the dealer had replaced the rear brake pads and resurfaced the rotors. You also stated that the sound was eliminated for approximately two weeks following the brake service. It sounds to me like the brake pads are developing a glaze which results in the noise you are describing. Have the dealer pull the pads and check for glazing on the surface. If glazing is found it is normally caused by excessive build up of heat. Several things can cause this, one of which could be a sticking caliper.

GM seams to be having a problem with brake pads. My wife drives a ?05 convertible Vette with the Z51 performance package. The brakes are so noisy that it is embarrassing to drive. Sounds like metal on metal. GM actually has a service bulletin stating the noise is normal for the high performance brakes used on the car and no fix is available. :mad:

As ShortBus suggested, trading the H3 for an H2 will eliminate the problem ? it did for me. :D

[usetosellhummer]

gm brakes suck!

[Hmmm2]

Thanks for your thoughts, rangerross. I ran it by the service writer today when she called to tell me my 3 might be ready tomorrow (after the hoodpaint job). She said the Hummer engineer will try to get to the dealer tomorrow (Friday) to check out my ongoing unresolved problem. I'm hoping. If he doesn't make it, we'll have to do it another day. <grrr> I'll keep you posted.

[Michael1]

I have to say, I have driven several H3s, and never noticed a grinding sound from the rear or anywhere else for that matter. I think the brakes are a good possibility. A lot of people forget brakes are part of the break-in process, too, and overuse them when new. That can put a glaze on the pad.

Michael

[Hmmm2]

Michael1, I haven't off-roaded in mine. Street driving only...normal stops, not 'slam on the brake' stops. If I have to stop a little quicker than usual .. that's when I hear the grind. The grind began somewheres began the 9-10th month of ownership. If it was just a brake job, then they would have told me and done it already, in my opinion. I had it 12 days (after the rotor re-surface and the new pads), drove it only locally (no freeways) .. and the grind was back.

[f5fstop]

Rotor resurface on a new set of rotors:eek: Not good, and I don't believe that is GM's policy.
Ask the dealer if they have a set of Chassis Ears, and if so, did they use them, and if not, why not; they are a required tool for finding a noise.
It is a tool that has six leads that you attach at different locatios on the vehicle. The leads attach to a central box, that has headphones. Someone drives, you listen and change the channels (different leads are different channels). You narrow down exactly where the sound is coming from.
You might have to re-position the leads a few times, but the tool is fantastic to locate those weird sounds that bug the hell out of people.

[Ipedog]

Good luck. I hope that you get the resolution/satisfaction you're looking for. :)

[Hmmm2]

f5fstop, thanks. When I took my 3 in for the first grind sound (June 6), I think I had approx. 12,000 miles. Can verify on the service write-up. I didn't even think about you had told me here. AGGGGGGGH!!!!!!!! Of course, if they thought it was a rotor and pad problem, they should have replaced the rotors and not re-surfaced them. They said they called Hummer Assist in when the pads were giving problems .. I wonder why Hummer Assist didn't just tell them to replace the rotors? Didn't fourfourto have his rotors replaced, too? I'm waiting to hear back from the dealer today .. whether the Hummer engineer made it there today to see my 3. Dealer still insisting up til yesterday that my grind is just a 'usual' sound. If I get the same story later today ... what do you think .. should I tell them they should have REPLACED the rotors and not re-surface them? Do I have any say with this after the fact? Sounding wimpy and I know it. :( I'm not wimpy in front of them, though. ;)

[fourfourto]

At 12,000 miles they replaced my pads and resurfaced my rotor.(there were no noticable groves)
Just turned 16,000 miles all seems fine.
The dealer had it done in about 1 and a half hours.

If problem comes back Ill insist on new rotors.

Hope they figure out your problem.
It does sound like the same problem I had , maybee I got lucky.

[Sugardaddy]

I had a problem a few years back with a Cadilliac Deville. Everything that one could imagine happened to that car. The final incident was when the block of the Northstar engine cracked. I contacted 1-800-my-lemon, and they handled it for me. The only thing that I had to do was to have, I believe it was, 3 repair orders for the same complaint. Because I'm not one to sue people at all, the deal that they made was that I could get another Cadilliac and turn the problematic car back in with no penalities of rolling the payment into the other car. Maybe this would work for you as well and you could get an H2.

[Hmmm2]

I don't want to have to go that route, but, we'll see what happens. What a hassle this has been. :mad: I spoke to GM/Hummer yesterday AGAIN for 40 minutes. He agreed that I have a lot going on and is going to put together a 'ride along' with the field engineer, the service dept service mgr and me (driving), so they can hear what I hear .. AGAIN. He's supposed to call me back this afternoon. We'll see. You wouldn't believe how many hours.. days I've put into this .. back and forth, back and forth. This shouldn't be happening with a new vehicle. Thanks for your input. I'll keep it as an option. I'll keep you posted. :)

[hmrlvr]

I've done the lemon law as well with GM but it's just a hassle. I'm sure you just want it fixed so you can enjoy your new truck. Good luck

[Hmmm2]

Thanks and you're right. All I want is to have it fixed so I can enjoy it .. and then just do my routine maintenances. Last Sunday I had a couple of guys follow me into the dealer .. I was turning in to see if they had the 07's out yet. When I parked they asked EVERYTHING about mine and wondered if it was an '07. LOL. I keep it TOO clean, I think. Anyways, I took them in to see a sales guy I think is very helpful and he took it from there. I even have a stock of his business cards to give out when someone comes over to ask me about my H3. So, I love the product .. I just want mine to be all it should be and nothing less. ;)

[Michael1]

A few things come to mind here. If it was a brake problem, the noise should change when brakes are applied versus released.

Does the sound change when making turns? If so you can narrow it down to bearings in the axle that provide side force.

Also sometimes you can jack it up with a frame hoist, run the engine with the trans in low gear, and listen with a sound probe to find a bad bearing in the axle.

Does the grinding noise pitch change much with speed? If so, it is probably a bad ring and pinion.

Michael

[Hmmm2]

Michael1, the noise occurs just as I'm coming to a stop, ESPECIALLY when going downhill. I live on a hill, so most of my driving is around, up and down the hill. The service mgr doesn't hear it at sea level as much .. though it can still be heard if I do a hard stop for him. The sound isn't heard just driving, or turning right or left .. only when I come to a stop. It sort of grinds/moans at the last 10 seconds. Now it seems to even move something like an inch after I come to a complete stop. I can also hear a slight whine in the steering column when I turn or accerate. I have no idea if these two things have anything to do with one another. I'm taking the Service Mgr for another drive tomorrow, but this time on the hill. I asked that a Hummer mechanic come along, too. I can only hope that between the two of them they can solve this for me. Thanks for your suggestions. :)

[hmrlvr]

fight on;)