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VA
TRACTION CONTROL
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
A traction control (ASR) malfunction indicator is
standard equipment on all instrument clusters. The
traction control malfunction indicator is located near
the lower edge of the instrument cluster, to the right
of the multi-function indicator display. The traction
control malfunction indicator consists of an icon that
graphically depicts a tire and two skid marks
imprinted within a rectangular cutout in the opaque
layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark
outer layer of the overlay prevents the indicator from
being clearly visible when it is not illuminated. An
amber Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind the cutout
in the opaque layer of the overlay causes the icon to
appear silhouetted against an amber field through
the translucent outer layer of the overlay when the
indicator is illuminated from behind by the LED,
which is soldered onto the instrument cluster elec-
tronic circuit board. The traction control malfunction
indicator is serviced as a unit with the instrument
cluster.
OPERATION
The traction control (ASR) malfunction indicator
gives the vehicle operator an indication when the
traction control system is faulty or inoperative. This
indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instru-
ment cluster circuit board based upon cluster pro-
gramming and electronic messages received by the
cluster from the Controller Antilock Brake (CAB)
over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.
The traction control malfunction indicator Light
Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the
instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will
only allow this indicator to operate when the instru-
ment cluster detects that the ignition switch is in the
On position. Therefore, the LED will always be off
when the ignition switch is in any position except
On. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a
path to ground by the instrument cluster transistor.
The instrument cluster will turn on the traction con-
trol malfunction indicator for the following reasons:
• Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is
turned to the On position the traction control indica-
tor is illuminated as a bulb test until the engine is
started.
• Traction Control (ASR) Malfunction Indica-
tor Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster
receives a traction control malfunction indicator
lamp-on message from the CAB, the indicator will be
illuminated. The indicator remains illuminated until
the cluster receives a lamp-off message from the
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 8J - 25
CAB, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off
position, whichever occurs first.
The CAB continually monitors the traction control
(ASR) system circuits and sensors to decide whether
the system is in good operating condition. The CAB
then sends the proper lamp-on or lamp-off messages
to the instrument cluster. If the CAB sends a
lamp-on message after the bulb test, it indicates that
the CAB has detected a system malfunction and that
the traction control (ASR) system has become inoper-
ative. The CAB will store a Diagnostic Trouble Code
(DTC) for any malfunction it detects. In addition, if
the traction control malfunction indicator is illumi-
nated, the CAB will deactivate an activated traction
control system and engine power output may be
reduced. See the owner's manual in the vehicle glove
box for more information on the features, use, activa-
tion and deactivation of the traction control (ASR)
system. For proper diagnosis of the traction control
system, the CAB, the CAN data bus, or the electronic
message inputs to the instrument cluster that control
the traction control malfunction indicator, a DRBIII
scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diag-
nostic information.
TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION
Two turn signal indicators, one right and one left,
are standard equipment on all instrument clusters.
The turn signal indicators are located near the upper
edge of the instrument cluster, one to each side of the
speedometer. Each turn signal indicator consists of a
arrow-shaped cutout of the International Control and
Display Symbol icon for "Turn Warning" in the
opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The
dark outer layer of the overlay prevents these icons
from being clearly visible when they are not illumi-
nated. A green Light Emitting Diode (LED) behind
each turn signal indicator cutout in the opaque layer
of the overlay causes the icon to appear in green
through the translucent outer layer of the overlay
when the indicator is illuminated from behind by the
LED, which is soldered onto the instrument cluster
electronic circuit board. The turn signal indicators
are serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
OPERATION
The turn signal indicators give an indication to the
vehicle operator that the turn signal (left or right
indicator flashing) or hazard warning (both left and
right indicators flashing) have been selected and are
operating. These indicators are controlled by transis-
tors on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board
based upon the cluster programming and a hard
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