Principles of Operation

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The instrument cluster uses different chimes to alert the driver of various vehicle conditions as follows:
- Safety belt warning (repetitive chime)
- Safety belt minder warning (repetitive chime after a delay and after the safety belt chime is completed)
- Key-in-ignition warning (repetitive chime)
- Turn signal on warning (repetitive chime)
- Headlamps on warning (repetitive chime)
- Air bag warning (repetitive chime)
- Message center warning (single tone)
- Fail safe cooling warning (repetitive chime)

Safety Belt Warning Chime
The safety belt warning chime warns that the safety belt is not fastened. The safety belt warning chime sounds when the driver or passenger safety belt is not fastened and the ignition key is turned from the OFF/LOCK or ACC to the ON or START position.

The safety belt warning chime stops sounding when the safety belt is fastened, when the ignition key is turned from the ON or START position to the OFF/LOCK or ACC position, or when the chime has sounded for approximately 6 seconds.

The safety belt warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Driver or passenger safety belt switch status signal from the restraint control module (RCM)

Safety Belt Minder
The safety belt minder is configurable. To configure using a scan tool, refer to Information Bus (Module Communications Network). To configure without using a scan tool, refer to Safety Belt Minder Deactivating/Activating. Service and Repair

The safety belt minder feature supplements the current safety belt warning function. The safety belt minder is enabled after the current safety belt warning is complete. The safety belt minder reminds the driver that the driver or passenger safety belt is unbuckled by intermittently sounding a chime and illuminating the safety belt warning lamp in the instrument cluster once the vehicle speed has exceeded 5 km/h (3 mph). While activated, the safety belt minder alternates the chime and indicator from on for 6 seconds to off for 30 seconds.

NOTE: The safety belt minder is disabled for 1 ignition switch ON cycle if the safety belt is buckled then unbuckled during that specific cycle.

Key-In-Ignition Warning Chime
The key-in-ignition warning chime warns that the key is still in the ignition lock cylinder when the driver door is ajar. The key-in-ignition warning chime sounds when the driver door is ajar, the key is in the ignition lock cylinder and in the OFF/LOCK or ACC position.

The key-in-ignition warning chime stops sounding when the driver door is closed, the key is removed from the ignition lock cylinder, or if the ignition key is turned to the ON position.

The key-in-ignition warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Door ajar signal from the driver door ajar switch
- Key-in-ignition switch signal from the ignition switch

Turn Signal On Warning Chime
The turn signal on warning chime warns that the vehicle traveled for more than 0.8 km (0.5 miles) with the turn signals continuously on.

The turn signal on warning chime stops sounding when the turn signal switch is placed in the off position, or when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF or ACC position.

The turn signal warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position.
- Turn signal switch on position signal from the turn signal switch.
- Odometer rolling count data from the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module.

Headlamps On Warning Chime
The headlamps on warning chime warns that the headlamps are on when the driver door is ajar and the key is removed from the ignition lock cylinder. The headlamps on warning chime sounds if the driver door is ajar, the headlamp switch is in the headlamps or parking lamps on position, and the ignition key is in the OFF/LOCK position.

The headlamps on warning chime stops sounding when any one of the above conditions are removed.

The headlamps on warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Door ajar signal from the driver door ajar switch
- Parking lamps on/off signal from the headlamp switch

Air Bag Warning Chime
The air bag warning chime warns that a fault is present in the supplemental restraint system (SRS). When a fault is present in the SRS, the lighting control module (LCM) receives a request from the RCM and sounds the air bag warning chime. If a fault is present in the SRS when the ignition switch is placed in the ON position, the air bag warning chime sounds only after 90 seconds after the key cycle.

The air bag warning chime inputs are the:
- Ignition switch position
- Air bag warning chime request signal from the RCM

Message Center Warning Chime
The message center warning chime sounds when a warning message is displayed on the message center. If multiple warning messages are present, a chime tone sounds for each of the warnings that are displayed.

The message center warning chime inputs are the warning messages displayed on the message center.

Fail Safe Cooling Warning Chime
When the engine coolant temperature reaches an over temperature condition, the powertrain control module (PCM) provides an over temperature signal to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster positions the temperature gauge in the HOT range and illuminates the engine coolant over temperature warning indicator. The instrument cluster also provides an intermittent chime, consisting of 3 tones within a 5 second interval for level 1 fail safe cooling mode or 5 tones within a 9 second interval for level 2 fail safe cooling mode.

The fail safe cooling warning chime input is the fail safe cooling chime request from the PCM.