Thinking of finally replacing my H3 battery before desert season kicks in
Had a bit of a wake up call last weekend when I was out near Al Qudra with some friends and after stopping for maybe twenty minutes the engine barely turned over, like that sluggish crank where everyone goes quiet for a second hoping it catches. The battery is probably four years old at this point so I shouldn't be surprised but I kept putting it off. Started looking into what options are actually out there for these trucks because I remember reading somewhere that Hummers need a pretty specific type, not just whatever they have lying around at the petrol station. A buddy sent me over to batteryzoneuae.com/hummer-battery-replacement and it actually breaks down the differences between the H2 and H3 requirements which I found helpful since I'm not exactly a car guy. Just curious if any of you who go dune bashing regularly have a preference for a certain brand or amp rating that handles the heat and vibration better, I don't wanna be the guy holding up the convoy again.
Four years in UAE heat is already a good run, so the sluggish crank is the battery telling you it's finished. Before you buy, get the alternator output checked too. A new battery on a weak charging system will leave you holding up the convoy again within a year.
That awkward silence in the convoy while the starter groans is painful. Better it happened near the road than deep in the dunes. Good call sorting it before the season starts.
Ran an H3 for years and did a lot of Qudra and Margham trips. Swapped to a heavier duty battery with a solid hold-down clamp, because the vibration kills cheap ones faster than the heat does. Mine went about three years before the next swap.
Which H3 do you have, the 3.7 or the 5.3? Also, do you carry a jump pack when you go out, or just rely on someone's cables? Asking because a decent lithium jump starter is worth having on dune runs regardless of the new battery.
Don't go cheap on the Ah and CCA rating, match or slightly exceed what's on the old label. For off-road use, look for a battery built with a vibration-resistant construction, and an AGM handles the shaking and the heat noticeably better than a basic flooded unit. Check the manufacture date sticker too, since old stock fails early.