Part 8 of 8
TURN SIGNAL INDICATORSTwo turn signal indicator lamps are standard equipment on all instrument clusters. The turn signal indicator lamps are located near the upper edge of the instrument cluster overlay, one on each side of the high beam indicator lamp in the center of the cluster. Each turn signal indicator lamp consists of a International Control and Display Symbol icon for "Turn Warning". These icons are stenciled cutouts in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the overlay prevents these icons from being clearly visible when their lamps are not illuminated. However, a green lens behind each cutout in the opaque layer of the cluster overlay causes the icon to appear in green through the translucent outer layer of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by a replaceable incandescent bulb and bulb holder unit located on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. The turn signal indicator lamps are serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
The turn signal indicator lamps 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. These lamps are hard wired on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board, and are controlled by the turn signal and hazard warning switch inputs to the cluster. The turn signal indicator lamp bulbs are grounded on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board at all times and receive battery current whenever the left and/or right turn signals are turned ON; therefore, these lamps can be ON regardless of the ignition switch position. The turn signal and hazard warning switches are integral to the left multi-function switch on the steering column. The turn signal indicator lamps are connected in series between ground and the output of the turn signal and hazard warning switches, but in parallel with the other turn signal circuits. This arrangement allows the turn signal indicators to remain functional regardless of the condition of the other circuits in the turn signal and hazard warning systems. For more information on the left multi-function switch, (Refer to LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIOR/MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH - OPERATION). The turn signal indicator lamps can be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.
UPSHIFT INDICATOR
An upshift indicator lamp is standard equipment on all instrument clusters, but is only functional on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The upshift indicator lamp is located near the upper edge of the instrument cluster overlay, in the upper right quadrant of the cluster. The upshift indicator lamp consists of an upward pointed arrow icon that is a stenciled cutout in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the cluster overlay prevents the icon from being clearly visible when the lamp is not illuminated. However, an amber lens behind the cutout in the opaque layer of the cluster overlay causes the icon to appear in amber through the translucent layer of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by a replaceable incandescent bulb and bulb holder unit located on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. When the exterior lighting is turned ON, the illumination intensity of the upshift indicator lamp is controlled by the panel lamps dimmer rheostat of the headlamp switch. The upshift indicator lamp is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
The upshift indicator lamp gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the transmission should be shifted to the next highest gear in order to achieve the best fuel economy. This lamp is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon the cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Chrysler Collision Detection (CCD) data bus. The upshift indicator lamp bulb receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output (st-run) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the ON or Start positions; therefore, the lamp will always be OFF when the ignition switch is in any position except ON or Start. The lamp bulb only illuminates when it is switched to ground by the instrument cluster circuitry. The upshift indicator lamp illumination brightness is also adjustable when the exterior lights are turned ON. The instrument cluster circuitry monitors the headlamp switch panel dimmer rheostat input to the cluster, then adjusts the output voltage to the upshift indicator lamp using the same circuitry and strategies used to control the Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) dimming level. The instrument cluster will turn ON the upshift indicator lamp for the following reasons:
- Upshift Lamp-ON Message - Each time the cluster receives an upshift lamp-ON message from the PCM indicating the engine speed and load conditions are right for a transmission upshift to occur. The lamp remains illuminated until the cluster receives an upshift lamp-OFF message from the PCM or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. The PCM will normally send an upshift lamp-OFF message three to five seconds after a lamp-ON message, if an upshift is not performed. The lamp will then remain OFF until the vehicle stops accelerating and is brought back into the range of lamp operation, or until the transmission is shifted into another gear.
- Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the lamp will be turned ON and OFF in a prescribed sequence to confirm the functionality of the lamp and the cluster circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the engine speed and load conditions to determine the proper fuel and ignition requirements. The PCM then sends the proper upshift indicator lamp messages to the instrument cluster. If the upshift indicator fails to light during normal vehicle operation, replace the bulb with a known good unit. For further diagnosis of the upshift indicator lamp or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the lamp, (Refer to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). For proper diagnosis of the PCM, the CCD data bus, or the message inputs to the instrument cluster that control the upshift indicator, a DRB III scan tool and the appropriate diagnostic information are required.
WASHER FLUID INDICATOR
A washer fluid indicator lamp is standard equipment on all instrument clusters. The washer fluid indicator lamp is located near the upper edge of the instrument cluster overlay, in the upper left quadrant of the cluster. The washer fluid indicator lamp consists of a stenciled cutout of the words "LOW WASHER" in the opaque layer of the instrument cluster overlay. The dark outer layer of the cluster overlay prevents the indicator from being clearly visible when the lamp is not illuminated. However, an amber lens behind the cutout in the opaque layer of the cluster overlay causes the "LOW WASHER" text to appear in amber through the translucent outer layer of the overlay when it is illuminated from behind by a replaceable incandescent bulb and bulb holder unit located on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. The washer fluid indicator lamp is serviced as a unit with the instrument cluster.
The washer fluid indicator lamp gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir is low. This lamp is hard wired on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board, and is controlled by the cluster circuitry based upon cluster programming and a washer fluid level switch input to the cluster. The washer fluid indicator lamp bulb receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output (st-run) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the ON or Start positions; therefore, the lamp will always be OFF when the ignition switch is in any position except ON or Start. The lamp bulb only illuminates when it is switched to ground by the instrument cluster circuitry. The instrument cluster will turn ON the washer fluid indicator lamp for the following reasons:
- Washer Fluid Level Switch Input - If the cluster senses a ground input on the low washer fluid sense input for more than about thirty seconds, it turns ON the washer fluid indicator lamp. Once illuminated, the lamp will remain illuminated until the cluster senses an open circuit on the low washer fluid sense input for more than about thirty seconds or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. This strategy is intended to reduce the effect that fluid sloshing within the washer reservoir can have on reliable lamp indications.
- Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the lamp will be turned ON and OFF in a prescribed sequence to confirm the functionality of the lamp and the cluster circuitry.
The washer fluid level switch is connected in series between ground and the low washer fluid sense input to the instrument cluster. For more information on the washer fluid level switch, (Refer to WIPERS/WASHERS/WASHER FLUID LEVEL SWITCH - DESCRIPTION). For further diagnosis of the washer fluid indicator lamp or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the lamp, (Refer to INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). The washer fluid level switch input to the cluster can be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and methods.