Instrument Cluster Description - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

8J - 2 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
WASHER FLUID INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 Instrument Cluster
1 - INSTRUMENT PANEL
2 - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
The instrument cluster for this model is an Elec-
troMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) that is
located in the instrument panel above the steering
column opening, directly in front of the driver (Fig.
1). The remainder of the EMIC, including the mounts
and the electrical connections, are concealed within
the instrument panel behind the cluster bezel.
Besides analog gauges and indicators, the EMIC
module incorporates two blue-green digital Vacuum
Fluorescent Display (VFD) units for displaying odom-
eter/trip odometer information, engine hours, auto-
matic transmission gear selector position (PRNDL),
several warning or reminder indications and certain
diagnostic information. The instrument cluster for
this model also includes the hardware and software
necessary to serve as the electronic body control mod-
ule and is sometimes referred to as the Cab Com-
partment Node or CCN.
The EMIC gauges and indicators are visible
through a dedicated opening in the cluster bezel on
the instrument panel and are protected by a clear
plastic cluster lens (Fig. 2) that is integral to a clus-
ter lens, hood and mask unit. Just behind the cluster
lens is the cluster hood and an integral cluster mask,
which are constructed of molded black plastic. The
cluster hood serves as a visor and shields the face of
the cluster from ambient light and reflections to
reduce glare, while the cluster mask serves to sepa-
rate and define the individual gauges and indicators
WATER-IN-FUEL INDICATOR
DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Fig. 2 Instrument Cluster Components
1 - SCREW (9)
2 - REAR COVER
3 - CLUSTER HOUSING
4 - LENS, HOOD & MASK
of the EMIC. A black plastic odometer/trip odometer
switch button protrudes through dedicated holes in
the cluster mask and the cluster lens, located near
the lower edge of the cluster just to the left of the
tachometer. The molded plastic EMIC lens, hood and
mask unit has four integral mounting tabs, one each
on the upper and lower outboard corners of the unit.
These mounting tabs are used to secure the EMIC to
the molded plastic instrument panel cluster carrier
with four screws.
The rear of the cluster housing and the EMIC elec-
tronic circuitry are protected by a molded plastic rear
cover, which is secured to the cluster housing with a
single screw, while eight screws installed around the
outside perimeter of the rear cover secure it to the
cluster lens, hood and mask unit. The rear cover
includes clearance holes for service access to each of
the eleven incandescent bulb and bulb holder units
installed on the cluster circuit board for general illu-
mination lighting and for the cluster connector recep-
tacles. The connector receptacles on the back of the
cluster electronic circuit board connect the EMIC to
the vehicle electrical system through three take outs
with connectors from the instrument panel wire har-
ness. The EMIC also has an integral interface con-
nector on the back of the cluster circuit board that
joins it to the optional external RKE receiver through
a connector receptacle that is integral to that unit.
The rear cover includes a molded receptacle and two
latch features to secure the RKE receiver on vehicles
that are so equipped.
DR