Instruments - Illumination Variance/Flickering

Bulletin No: 09-040/10
Last Issued: 08/24/2010

Subject:
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND INFORMATION DISPLAY ILLUMINATION VARIATION / FLICKER

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

2010 Tribute vehicles built on or before May 4, 2010

DESCRIPTION

Some vehicles may exhibit interior backlighting variation when the headlamp switch is in the park lamp, headlamp or autolamp positions during daytime and/or dusk/dawn conditions. The instrument cluster backlighting and the information displays in the instrument cluster and instrument panel may appear to flicker if the vehicle enters/exits lower ambient light areas like tunnels, bridges, viaducts and shaded areas.

Customers having this concern should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure.

REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. Reboot the IDS to clear memory before reprogramming.

2. Using IDS 68.03 or later software, reprogram the Smart Junction Box (SJB) to the latest calibration by following the Module Reprogramming" procedure. This new calibration is not included in the VCM 2010.7 DVD.

NOTE:

^ Always update the IDS tool first, then follow on-screen instructions to download the needed calibration file for Smart Junction Box reprogramming.

^ It is not necessary to remove any fuses or relays during Smart Junction Box reprogramming when the IDS screen prompts you to do so. You may accidentally stop power to one of the Smart Junction Box terminals and cause the Smart Junction Box to be blanked, or you may receive error messages during the IDS reprogramming procedure.

^ When performing this procedure, we recommend that a battery charger be installed on the vehicle battery and turned ON to a maximum charge of no more than 20 AMPS to keep the vehicle battery up to capacity. If you exceed 20 AMPS, it could damage the VCM.

3. After performing the Smart Junction Box reprogramming procedure, verify the repair by starting the engine and making sure there are no MIL illumination or abnormal warning lights present.

NOTE:

^ If any DTCs should remain after performing DTC erase, diagnose the DTCs according to the appropriate Troubleshooting section of the Workshop Manual.

^ After Smart Junction Box reprogramming, it is no longer necessary to road test the vehicle to "relearn" KAM (Keep Alive Memory).





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