Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators: Description and Operation

Electronic Instrument Cluster:

The electronic speedometer/odometer is substantially different from other electronic speedometers. It includes a non-volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) that stores odometer information (both total mileage and trip mileage). The speedometer/odometer uses a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) instead of a vacuum fluorescent display to provide digital readouts of vehicle speed, total and trip mileage. The electronic display is operational only when the key is in the RUN position. The LCD displays get their illumination from bulbs. When the headlamps are turned ON, the LCD lamp bulbs are switched over to the dimming rheostat via a relay. The electronic instrument cluster is made up of three separate electronic modules, a speedometer/odometer, tachometer/multigauge, fuel computer modules and warning lamps.

TACHOMETER/MULTIGAUGE MODULE
The tachometer/multigauge module features a curvilinear (curved line) bar graph tachometer, a digital fuel gauge, and a multigauge bar graph display of the coolant temperature, oil pressure, voltage and an analog fuel level indicator.

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER MODULE
The speedometer/odometer displays vehicle speed, miles, and trip miles in Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) form. A choice of English or Metric mode selection is available with a push of the E/M button. The module has a speed alert warning alarm, alerting the driver that he/she is going 5 mph faster than the preset speed. Another feature of the speedometer/odometer module is the service interval reminder. The service interval reminder alerts the driver of regular service interval time by displaying the word SERVICE on the electronic module approximately 5000 to 7500 miles after being reset, depending upon engine application.
NOTE: If a condition exists where the speedometer module cannot read a valid odometer memory from the non-volatile electronic memory, the words ERROR and SERVICE will be displayed.

FUEL COMPUTER MODULE
The fuel computer module features digital display of the following functions:
^ INST ECON (instantaneous fuel economy)
^ AVG ECON (average fuel economy)
^ DTE (distance to empty)
^ DISTANCE (trip odometer distance)
^ AVG SPEED (average speed)

CLUSTER BUTTONS
^ The E/M button switches the display from the English to Metric (MPH to Km/H) or Metric to English (Km/H to MPH).
^ The SPEED button sets or clears the speed alert system.
^ The GAUGE button displays four different gauges on it. The temperature gauge will show itself when power first comes on. Pressing the button for the first time the oil pressure gauge will show. Pressing the button a second time will bring up the voltage gauge. By pressing the button a third time, the analog fuel level indicator will be brought to the screen. The fourth push of the button will return to the temperature gauge.
^ The TRIP button displays the trip odometer, or the total odometer on the speedometer/odometer module.
^ The RESET (TRIP function) button zeros out the odometer.
^ The RESET (FUEL function) button resets displayed fuel computer function (AVG ECON, DIST, AVG SPEED). Each function must be independently reset.
^ The SELECT button displays instantaneous fuel economy, distance to empty, trip odometer distance, or average speed.

PROVE OUT
Each time the ignition switch is first turned from OFF to RUN position, the electronic displays of the three modules will prove out by momentarily lighting all of the display segments and then momentarily turning all display segments off. This occurs to verify that all display segments are operating correctly.

SPEED ALERT
The speed alert system alerts the driver that he/she is going faster than the preset speed by blinking the word SPEED and sounding three short beeps. The preset speed is set by accelerating to the desired speed, and pressing the SPEED button. The word SPEED will appear on the electronic display to show it has been set.