Upshift Indicator Description; Operation; Voltage Gauge; Description - Dodge dakota 2002 Service Manual

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8J - 40
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR (Continued)
sages to the Front Control Module (FCM) over the
Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data
bus and flashes the turn signal indicators on and off
accordingly. For further diagnosis of the turn signal
indicators or the instrument cluster circuitry that
controls the indicators, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER
TESTING). For proper diagnosis of the turn signal
and hazard warning system, the multi-function
switch, the FCM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic
message inputs to the instrument cluster that control
the turn signal indicators, a DRBIII
required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic infor-
mation.
UPSHIFT INDICATOR

DESCRIPTION

An upshift indicator is standard equipment on all
instrument
clusters.
equipped with a manual transmission, this indicator
is electronically disabled. The upshift indicator con-
sists of an upward pointed arrow icon, which appears
on the right side of the electronic gear selector indi-
cator Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit. The
VFD is soldered onto the cluster electronic circuit
board and is visible through a window with a smoked
clear lens located on the lower edge of the speedom-
eter gauge dial face of the cluster overlay. The dark
lens over the VFD prevents the indicator from being
clearly visible when it is not illuminated. The icon
appears in a blue-green color and at the same light-
ing level as the odometer/trip odometer information
when it is illuminated by the instrument cluster elec-
tronic circuit board. The upshift indicator is serviced
as a unit with the instrument cluster.

OPERATION

The upshift indicator gives an indication to the
vehicle operator when the manual transmission
should be shifted to the next highest gear in order to
achieve the best fuel economy. This indicator is con-
trolled by the instrument cluster circuit board based
upon cluster programming and electronic messages
received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM) on vehicles with a gasoline engine, or
from the Engine Control Module (ECM) on vehicles
with a diesel engine over the Programmable Commu-
nications Interface (PCI) data bus. The upshift indi-
cator is completely controlled by the instrument
cluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow
this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster
receives a battery current input on the fused ignition
switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the indi-
cator will always be off when the ignition switch is in
-
DIAGNOSIS
scan tool is
However,
on
vehicles
any position except On or Start. The indicator only
illuminates when it is switched to ground by the
instrument cluster circuitry. The instrument cluster
will turn on the upshift indicator for the following
reasons:
• Upshift Lamp-On Message - Each time the
AND
cluster receives an upshift lamp-on message from the
PCM or ECM indicating the engine speed and load
conditions are right for a transmission upshift to
occur, the upshift indicator is illuminated. The indi-
cator remains illuminated until the cluster receives
an upshift lamp-off message from the PCM or ECM,
or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off posi-
tion, whichever occurs first. The PCM or ECM will
normally send an upshift lamp-off message three to
five seconds after a lamp-on message, if an upshift is
not performed. The indicator will then remain off
until the vehicle stops accelerating and is brought
back into the range of indicator operation, or until
the transmission is shifted into another gear.
• Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put
not
through the actuator test, the upshift indicator will
be turned on, then off again during the VFD portion
of the test to confirm the functionality of the VFD
and the cluster control circuitry.
On vehicles with a gasoline engine, the PCM con-
tinually monitors the engine speed and load condi-
tions to determine the proper fuel and ignition
requirements. On vehicles with a diesel engine, the
ECM continually monitors the engine speed and load
conditions to determine the proper fuel requirements.
The PCM or ECM then sends the proper upshift indi-
cator lamp-on and lamp-off messages to the instru-
ment cluster. For further diagnosis of the upshift
indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that con-
trols the indicator, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/IN-
STRUMENT
TESTING). For proper diagnosis of the PCM, the
ECM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message
inputs to the instrument cluster that control the
upshift indicator, a DRBIII
Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.

VOLTAGE GAUGE

DESCRIPTION
A voltage gauge is standard equipment on all
instrument clusters. The voltage gauge is located in
the upper left quadrant of the instrument cluster,
above the fuel gauge. The voltage gauge consists of a
movable gauge needle or pointer controlled by the
instrument cluster circuitry and a fixed 90 degree
scale on the cluster overlay that reads left-to-right
from "L" (or Low) to "H" (or High) for gasoline
engines. On vehicles with a diesel engine, the scale
CLUSTER
-
DIAGNOSIS
scan tool is required.
DR
AND

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