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 then stays on.
    • The ABS indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The service vehicle soon indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The battery/charge indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The trac off indicator illuminates briefly.
    • The brake indicator illuminates briefly.

Indicators and Warning Messages

Refer to Indicator/Warning Message Description and Operation .

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

The IPC displays the engine coolant temperature as determined by the PCM. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the PCM indicating the engine coolant temperature. The engine coolant temperature gage defaults to 160° F (75° C) or below if the PCM detects a malfunction in the engine coolant temperature sensor circuit.

Fuel Gage

The IPC displays the fuel level as determined by the PCM. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the PCM indicating the fuel level percent. The fuel gage defaults to E (empty) if the PCM detects a malfunction in the fuel level sensor circuit.

When the fuel level is less than 13% of a tank of gas, the LOW FUEL message illuminates in the Message center.

Odometer

The IPC contains a season odometer and a trip odometer. Press the trip/reset switch for 1 second on the IPC in order to toggle between the season odometer and the trip odometer. Press the trip/reset switch for greater than 1 second, while the trip odometer is displayed, in order to reset the trip odometer. If the trip/reset switch is held for 3 seconds the trip odometer displays the total miles driven from the start of the current ignition cycle. The IPC displays the vehicle mileage and trip mileage as determined by the IPC. The IPC calculates the mileage based on the vehicle speed signal circuit from the PCM. The odometer will display 'error' if an internal IPC memory failure is detected or there is no class 2 communication. The odometer displays either miles or kilometers as requested by the activation of the english/metric button on the driver information center (DIC). The associated indicator (km or mi) illuminates.

Speedometer

The IPC displays the vehicle speed as determined by the PCM. The PCM converts the data from the vehicle speed sensor to a 4000 pulses/mile signal. The IPC uses the vehicle speed signal circuit (4000 pulses/mile) from the PCM in order to calculate the vehicle speed. If the IPC detects a malfunction in the vehicle speed signal circuit from the PCM, the IPC uses the class 2 message from the EBCM (indicating the vehicle speed) as a backup. The speedometer displays either miles or kilometers as requested by the activation of the english/metric button on the driver information center (DIC). The associated indicator (km/h or mph) illuminates.

Tachometer

The IPC displays the engine speed as determined by the PCM. The IPC receives a class 2 message from the PCM indicating the engine speed. The tachometer will default to 0 rpm if the PCM detects a malfunction in the engine speed sensor signal circuit.