Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual page 496

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (Continued)
molded plastic cluster housing serves as the carrier
for the cluster circuit board and circuitry, the cluster
connector receptacles, the RKE interface connector,
the gauges, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) for each
cluster indicator, two VFD units, an audible tone
generator, the cluster overlay, the gauge pointers, the
odometer/trip odometer switch and the switch button.
The cluster overlay is a laminated plastic unit. The
dark, visible, outer surface of the overlay is marked
with all of the gauge dial faces and graduations, but
this layer is also translucent. The darkness of this
outer layer prevents the cluster from appearing clut-
tered or busy by concealing the cluster indicators
that are not illuminated, while the translucence of
this layer allows those indicators and icons that are
illuminated to be readily visible. The underlying
layer of the overlay is opaque and allows light from
the LED for each of the various indicators and the
incandescent illumination lamps behind it to be visi-
ble through the outer layer of the overlay only
through predetermined stencil-like cutouts. A rectan-
gular opening in the overlay at the base of both the
speedometer and tachometer dial faces has a smoked
clear lens through which the illuminated VFD units
can be viewed.
Several versions of the EMIC module are offered
on this model. These versions accommodate all of the
variations of optional equipment and regulatory
requirements for the various markets in which the
vehicle will be offered. The microprocessor-based
EMIC utilizes integrated circuitry and information
carried on the Programmable Communications Inter-
face (PCI) data bus network along with several hard
wired analog and multiplexed inputs to monitor sen-
sors and switches throughout the vehicle. In response
to those inputs, the internal circuitry and program-
ming of the EMIC allow it to control and integrate
many electronic functions and features of the vehicle
through both hard wired outputs and the transmis-
sion of electronic message outputs to other electronic
modules in the vehicle over the PCI data bus. (Refer
to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
MODULES/COMMUNICATION - DESCRIPTION -
PCI BUS).
Besides typical instrument cluster gauge and indi-
cator support, the electronic functions and features
that the EMIC supports or controls include the fol-
lowing:
• Audible Warnings - The EMIC electronic cir-
cuit board is equipped with an audible tone generator
and programming that allows it to provide various
audible alerts to the vehicle operator, including
chime tones and beep tones. An electromechanical
relay is also soldered onto the circuit board to pro-
duce audible clicks that emulate the sound of a con-
ventional turn signal or hazard warning flasher.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/CHIME/BUZZER -
DESCRIPTION).
• Brake Lamp Control - The EMIC provides
electronic brake lamp request messages to the Front
Control Module (FCM) located on the Integrated
Power Module (IPM) for brake lamp control, exclud-
ing control of the Center High Mounted Stop Lamp
(CHMSL), which remains controlled by a direct hard
wired output of the brake lamp switch.
• Brake Transmission Shift Interlock Control
- The EMIC monitors inputs from the brake lamp
switch, ignition switch, and the Transmission Range
Sensor (TRS), then controls a high-side driver output
to operate the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock
(BTSI) solenoid that locks and unlocks the automatic
transmission gearshift selector lever on the steering
column.
• Cargo Lamp Control - The EMIC provides
direct control of cargo lamp operation with a load
shedding (battery saver) feature which will automat-
ically turn off the cargo lamp if it remains on after a
timed interval.
• Central Locking - The EMIC provides support
for the central locking feature of the power lock sys-
tem. This feature will lock or unlock all doors based
upon the input from the door cylinder lock switch.
Door cylinder lock switches are used only on models
equipped with the optional Vehicle Theft Security
System (VTSS).
• Door Lock Inhibit - The EMIC inhibits locking
of the doors with the power lock switch when the key
is in the ignition switch and the driver side front
door is ajar. However, operation of the door locks is
not inhibited under the same conditions when the
Lock button of the optional RKE transmitter is
depressed.
• Enhanced Accident Response - The EMIC
monitors an input from the Airbag Control Module
(ACM) and, following an airbag deployment, will
immediately disable the power lock output, unlock all
doors by activating the power unlock output, then
CONTROL enables the power lock output if the power lock
switch input remains inactive for two seconds. This
feature, like all other enhanced accident response
features, is dependent upon a functional vehicle elec-
trical system following the vehicle impact event.
• Exterior Lighting Control - The EMIC pro-
vides electronic head lamp and/or park lamp request
messages to the Front Control Module (FCM) located
on the Integrated Power Module (IPM) for the appro-
priate exterior lamp control of standard head and
park lamps, as well as optional front fog lamps. This
includes support for headlamp beam selection and
the optical horn feature, also known as flash-to-pass.
• Exterior Lighting Fail-safe - In the absence of
a headlamp switch input, the EMIC will turn on the
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