Component Tests and General Diagnostics
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
If the instrument cluster general illumination lighting is ineffective, refer to CLUSTER ILLUMINATION DIAGNOSIS.
If all of the instrument cluster gauges and indicators are ineffective, be certain to check the instrument cluster fused B(+) fuse and the instrument cluster fused B(+) and ground circuits for shorts or opens. Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair procedures, details of wire harness routing and retention, connector pin-out information and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.
If an individual hard wired gauge or indicator is ineffective, refer to the diagnosis and testing for that specific gauge or indicator. If an individual Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus message-controlled gauge or indicator is ineffective, perform the Actuator Test as follows:
ACTUATOR TEST
WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
NOTE: The practice of exchanging (swapping) instrument clusters and other electronic modules in this vehicle with those removed from another vehicle must always be avoided. If the instrument cluster has been replaced, certain indicators in this instrument cluster will be automatically configured when the cluster is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. This feature allows those indicators to be activated for compatibility with certain optional equipment. Some other indicators may require manual intervention to obtain proper configuration for the equipment in the specific vehicle. If the problem being diagnosed involves erroneous illumination of the ABS indicator, the airbag indicator, the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) indicator, the Part Time indicator, the Full Time indicator or the Tire Pressure Monitor indicator when the vehicle does not have the appropriate equipment, a diagnostic scan tool must be used to manually enable or disable the correct indicator(s). Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.
The instrument cluster actuator test will put the instrument cluster into its self-diagnostic mode. In this mode the instrument cluster can perform a self-diagnostic test that will confirm that the instrument cluster circuitry, the gauges, the PCI data bus message-controlled indicators, and the chime tone transducer are capable of operating as designed. During the actuator test the instrument cluster circuitry will sound the audible tone transducer, position each of the gauge needles at various calibration points, illuminate each of the segments in the Vacuum-Fluorescent Display (VFD) unit, and turn all of the PCI data bus message-controlled indicators ON and OFF again.
Successful completion of the actuator test will confirm that the instrument cluster is operational. However, there may still be a problem with the PCI data bus, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), the Airbag Control Module (ACM), the Body Control Module (BCM), the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), the Sentry Key REmote Entry Module (SKREEM) (also known as the Wireless Control Module/WCM), or the inputs to one of these electronic control modules. Use a diagnostic scan tool to diagnose these components. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.
1. Begin the test with the ignition switch in the OFF position.
2. Depress the odometer/trip odometer switch button.
3. While still holding the odometer/trip odometer switch button depressed, turn the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not start the engine.
4. Release the odometer/trip odometer switch button.
5. The instrument cluster will automatically begin the actuator test sequence, as follows:
a. The cluster will turn ON, then OFF again each of the PCI data bus message-controlled indicators to confirm the functionality of the indicator and the cluster control circuitry:
b. The cluster will sweep the needles for each of the gauges to several calibration points in sequence to confirm the functionality of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry:
c. The cluster will sequentially step the odometer/trip odometer VFD unit display from all ones (111111) through all nines (999999) to confirm the functionality of all VFD unit segments and their control circuitry, then display the software version number.
d. The cluster will generate five (5) chime tones to confirm the functionality of the audible tone transducer and the control circuitry.
6. The actuator test is now completed. The instrument cluster will automatically exit the self-diagnostic mode and return to normal operation at the completion of the test, if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position during the test, or if an electronic engine speed message indicating that the engine is running is received from the PCM over the PCI data bus during the test.
7. Go back to STEP 1 to repeat the test, if required.
CLUSTER ILLUMINATION DIAGNOSIS
WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental restraint system before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the supplemental restraint system. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.
If the problem being diagnosed is a single ineffective illumination lamp, be certain that the bulb and bulb holder unit are properly installed in the instrument cluster electronic circuit board. If no installation problems are found, replace the ineffective bulb and bulb holder unit. If all of the cluster illumination lamps are ineffective, the most reliable, efficient, and accurate means to diagnose the cluster illumination function of the instrument cluster requires the use of a diagnostic scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.