Instrument Cluster Components; Instrument Cluster Description - Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual

8J - 2 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 Instrument Cluster Components
1 - COVER
2 - HOUSING
3 - OVERLAY AND GAUGES
4 - HOOD
5 - LENS
6 - CIRCUIT BOARD
7 - ODOMETER SWITCH BUTTON
The instrument cluster for this model is an Elec-
troMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) module
that is located in the instrument panel above the
steering column opening, directly in front of the
driver (Fig. 1). The EMIC gauges and indicators are
protected by an integral clear plastic cluster lens,
and are visible through a dedicated opening in the
cluster bezel on the instrument panel. Just behind
the cluster lens is the cluster hood. The cluster hood
serves as a visor and shields the face of the cluster
from ambient light and reflections to reduce glare.
Behind the cluster hood is the cluster overlay and
gauges. The overlay is a multi-layered unit. The
dark, visible surface of the outer layer of the overlay
is marked with all of the gauge identification and
graduations, but this layer is also translucent. The
darkness of this outer layer prevents the cluster from
appearing cluttered or busy by concealing the cluster
indicators that are not illuminated, while the trans-
lucence of this layer allows those indicators and icons
that are illuminated to be readily visible. The under-
lying layer of the overlay is opaque and allows light
from the various indicators and illumination lamps
behind it to be visible through the outer layer of the
overlay only through predetermined cutouts. On the
lower edge of the cluster lens just left of center, the
odometer/trip odometer switch knob protrudes
through a dedicated hole in the lens. The remainder
of the EMIC, including the mounts and the electrical
connections, are concealed behind the cluster bezel.
The molded plastic EMIC housing has four integral
mounting tabs, two each on the upper and lower
edges of the housing. The EMIC is secured to the
molded plastic instrument panel cluster carrier with
four screws. All electrical connections to the EMIC
are made at the back of the cluster housing through
two take outs of the instrument panel wire harness,
each equipped with a self-docking connector.
A single EMIC module is offered on this model.
This module utilizes integrated circuitry and infor-
mation carried on the Chrysler Collision Detection
(CCD) data bus network for control of all gauges and
many of the indicators. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/COMMUNI-
CATION - DESCRIPTION). The EMIC also uses
several hard wired inputs in order to perform its
many functions. In addition to instrumentation and
indicators, the EMIC has hardware and/or software
to support the following functions:
• Chime Warning Requests - The EMIC sends
chime tone requests over a hard wired circuit to the
Central Timer Module (CTM) when it monitors cer-
tain conditions or inputs. The CTM replaces the
chime or buzzer module and performs the functions
necessary to provide audible alerts that are synchro-
nized with the visual alerts provided by the EMIC.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/CHIME/BUZZER -
DESCRIPTION).
• Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) Dim-
ming Service - The EMIC performs the functions
necessary to eliminate the need for a separate VFD
dimming module by providing control and synchroni-
zation of the illumination intensity of all vacuum flu-
orescent displays in the vehicle, as well as a parade
mode.
The EMIC module incorporates a blue-green digital
VFD for displaying odometer and trip odometer infor-
mation, as well as the amber cruise-on indicator dis-
play function. Some variations of the EMIC are
necessary to support optional equipment and regula-
tory requirements. The EMIC includes the following
analog gauges:
• Coolant Temperature Gauge
• Fuel Gauge
• Oil Pressure Gauge
• Speedometer
• Tachometer
• Voltage Gauge
The EMIC also includes provisions for the follow-
ing indicators:
• Airbag Indicator
• Antilock Brake System (ABS) Indicator
• Brake Indicator
BR/BE