GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Displays Test

Certain instrument panel cluster (IPC) features are tested when the ignition is turned on in order to verify the features are working properly. The following occurs at key up:

    • The air bag indicator flashes 7 times (not IPC controlled).
    • The ABS indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The battery Indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The brake indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The coolant temperature indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The engine oil pressure indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates briefly (not IPC controlled).
    • The seat belt indicator illuminates for 70 seconds or until the driver seat belt is latched (not IPC controlled).
    • The security indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The tire pressure low indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The vehicle dynamics caution (VDC) indicator illuminates briefly.
    • All message center segments illuminate briefly.
    • All odometer segments illuminate briefly.

Indicators and Warning Messages

Refer to Indicator/Warning Message Description and Operation .

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the engine coolant temperature as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC receives serial data messages from the ECM indicating the engine coolant temperature. The engine coolant temperature gage defaults to 60°C (140°F) or below if:

    • The ECM detects a malfunction in the engine coolant temperature sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communications with the ECM.

Odometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) contains a season odometer and trip odometer A or B. Momentarily press the trip/reset switch on the IPC in order to toggle between the season odometer and the trip odometer. Press the trip/reset switch for greater than 2 seconds, while the trip odometer is displayed, in order to reset the trip odometer. The IPC displays the vehicle mileage and trip mileage as determined by the ECM. The IPC calculates the mileage based on the serial data vehicle speed information from the engine control module (ECM). The odometer will display 'error' if an internal IPC memory failure is detected. The odometer displays either miles or kilometers as requested by the activation of the English/metric button on the IPC.

PRND321 Display

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the selected gear position in the driver information center (DIC) as determined by the transmission control module (TCM). The IPC receives serial data messages from the TCM indicating the gear position. The PRND321 display blanks if:

    • The TCM detects a malfunction in the transmission range switch circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communications with the TCM.

The manual shift mode gear position is also displayed in the DIC as M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6. Also, when the transmission sport mode is selected, the DIC displays the sport mode indicator. Domestic vehicles only display gear position in the DIC while export vehicles utilize the jewel gear position display.

Speedometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the vehicle speed as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC calculates the mileage based on the serial data vehicle speed information from the ECM. The speedometer defaults to 0 km/h (0 mph) if the IPC detects a loss of serial data communications with both the ECM.

Tachometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the engine speed as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC receives serial data messages from the ECM indicating the engine speed. The tachometer will default to 0 rpm if:

    • The ECM detects a malfunction in the engine speed sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communications with the ECM.