Instrument Cluster - Description
DESCRIPTION
There are three clusters available for this vehicle: Base, Premium and Premium SRT. While there are three noticeable different clusters available they all have many of the same features. All have four large easy to read gauges: Fuel, speedometer, tachometer and engine temperature, they all offer up to 19 warning indicators depending on equipment level, and they all offer a Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). The most noticeable difference is the VFD unit, the speedometer.
The base instrument cluster comes with a standard VFD unit for displaying odometer information, and several indicators as well as a transmission gear selector position indicator (PRNDL) if equipped with and automatic transmission. The premium models come with an optional Electronic vehicle Information Center (EVIC) that is discussed elsewhere in the manual . Available speedometers are a 160 MPH and a 180 MPH speedometer on vehicles equipped with the SRT package, (gauge faces glow blue-green when headlamps are on) and the white gauges with orange pointers, (gauges glow white when headlamps are on).
The instrument cluster, located in the instrument panel above the steering column is only visible through an opening in the cluster bezel. The main body of the instrument cluster, including the mounts and the electrical connections, are concealed within the instrument panel behind the cluster bezel. The instrument cluster for this vehicle also includes the hardware and software necessary to serve as the electronic body control module known as the Cab Compartment Node or (CCN).
The instrument cluster gauges and Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicators, are visible through a dedicated opening in the instrument panel behind the cluster bezel, and are protected by a clear plastic cluster lens. Just behind the cluster lens is the cluster hood and integral mask. The hood, serves as a visor and shields the face of the cluster from ambient light and reflections to reduce glare, while the cluster mask serves to separate and define the individual gauges from the indicator areas and trims the outside perimeter of the cluster overlay.
VEHICLE SYSTEMS SUPPORT
Besides the typical instrument cluster gauge and indicator support, the electronic functions and features the CCN supports or controls include the following:
Accessory Power Delay Relay Control - The Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) provides timing and control for the accessory power delay relay, based upon customer inputs to the CCN across the CAN Bus, as well as ignition switch and the door ajar switch inputs.
Audible Warnings - The CCN electronic circuit board is equipped with an audible tone transducer and programming to provide various audible alerts to the vehicle operator, including chime and beep tones. An electromechanical relay is soldered onto the circuit board to produce audible clicks that emulate the sound of a conventional turn signal or hazard warning flasher .
Automatic Headlamps Control - On models equipped with optional automatic headlamps, the CCN monitors inputs from both the headlamp switch and a sun load sensor located on the top of the instrument panel to provide automatic headlamps.
Change Oil Indicator - A change oil indicator is standard equipment on all instrument clusters built for the US market. On Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) equipped vehicles, an Oil Change Required message appears in the upper portion of the VFD unit. The EVIC change oil indicator consists of a textual Oil Change Required message that appears within the EVIC VFD. On non-EVIC equipped vehicles, a Change Oil message displays in the odometer area of the VFD. The change oil indicator message in the odometer area of the VFD consists of cycling textual Change then Oil messages which appear in place of the odometer/trip odometer information.
Enhanced Accident Response Support - The CCN monitors an input from the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC). Following an airbag deployment, the ORC immediately disables the power lock output and unlocks all doors by activating the power unlock output, it then enables the power lock output if the power lock switch input remains inactive for two seconds. The CCN also monitors input from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to automatically turn on the interior lighting after an airbag deployment event, ten seconds after the vehicle speed is zero. The interior lighting remains illuminated until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, at which time the interior lighting returns to normal operation and control. These Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) features are each dependent upon a functional vehicle electrical system following the vehicle impact event.
Exterior Lighting Control - The CCN provides electronic headlamp and/or park lamp request messages to the TIPM for the appropriate exterior lamp control of standard head and park lamps, as well as optional front fog lamps.
Exterior Lighting Fail-safe - In the absence of a headlamp switch input, the TIPM turns on the cluster illumination lamps and provides electronic headlamp low beam and park lamp request messages. The TIPM also provides default park lamp and headlamp low beam operation. The CCN turns on the instrument cluster general illumination lighting, if there is a failure of the electronic data bus communication between the CCN and the TIPM.
Fuel Level and DTE Data Support - The CCN receives fuel-used and distance-traveled information from the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) or the PCM across the CAN data bus. The CCN uses this input to calculate the proper fuel gauge needle position and low fuel indicator operation. Based upon this input, the CCN calculates fuel level, average fuel economy and distance to empty data, then uses electronic messaging to transmit this data over the CAN data bus for use by other electronic modules in the vehicle.
Heated Seat Control - The CCN monitors hardwired inputs from the heated seat switches. Once the CCN confirms the status of the switch, it conveys a data Bus signal to the Heated Seat Module (HSM) for the request. Once the HSM receives this request, a message is sent back out on the data Bus to the CCN to actuate the low side driver outputs to the heated seat switch Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicators. The CCN de-energizes the heated seat switch LED indicators, which deactivates the heated seat system, if the ignition switch is turned to any position except On .
Heated Steering Wheel Control - The CCN monitors hardwired inputs from the heated steering wheel switch. Once the CCN confirms the status of the switch, it conveys a data Bus signal to the Heated Seat Module (HSM) for the request. Once the HSM receives this request, a message is sent back out on the data Bus to the CCN to actuate the low side driver output to the heated steering wheel switch Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator. The CCN de-energizes the heated steering wheel switch LED indicator, which deactivates the heated steering wheel system, if the ignition switch is turned to any position except On .
Interior Lamp Load Shedding - The CCN provides a battery saver feature which automatically turns off all interior lamps that remain on after a timed interval of about ten minutes, as long as the key is in the OFF position and out of the ignition. If the interior lamps are turned back on during the ten minute time out period, the CCN alters the time out period to 90 seconds. If the vehicle is restarted during the time out period, the CCN reverts to the ten minute time out logic.
Interior Lighting Control - The CCN monitors inputs from the interior lighting switch, the door ajar switches, the reading lamp switches and the Wireless Ignition Node (WIN), to provide courtesy lamp control. This includes support for timed illuminated entry with theater-style fade-to-off and courtesy illumination defeat features.
Power Locks - The CCN monitors inputs from the power lock switches and the WIN, to provide control of the power lock motors through both the high and low side driver outputs to the motors. This includes support for the rolling door locks (also known as automatic door locks), automatic door unlock and door lock inhibit mode .
Panel Lamps Dimming Control - The CCN monitors hardwired multiplexed inputs from the headlamp switch on the instrument panel, then provides a hardwired Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) output that synchronizes the dimming level of all panel lamps dimmer controlled lamps with the cluster illumination lighting.
Remote Radio Switch Interface - The CCN monitors inputs from the optional remote radio switches, then provides the appropriate electronic data bus messages to the radio, to select the radio operating mode, volume control, preset station scan and station seek features. The radio switches also permit the driver to scroll through and make selections on the EVIC.
Turn Signal and Hazard Warning Lamp Control - The CCN monitors data Bus messages from the TIPM, then provides electronic turn and hazard lamp illumination. The CCN provides an audible click at one of two rates, to emulate normal and bulb out turn or hazard flasher operation, based upon electronic lamp outage messages from the TIPM. The CCN provides an audible turn signal on chime warning, if a turn is signalled continuously for more than about 1.6 kilometers (one mile) and the vehicle speed remains greater than about twenty-four kilometers-per-hour (fifteen miles-per-hour).
Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) Synchronization - The CCN monitors Bus information from the TIPM, then transmits electronic panel lamp dimming level messages. It allows all other electronic modules on the CAN data bus with VFD units to coordinate their illumination intensity with the CCN VFD units. This includes a parade mode (also known as funeral mode), that allows all VFD units in the vehicle to be illuminated at full (daytime) intensity while driving during daylight hours with the exterior lamps turned on.
Vehicle Theft Security System (VTSS) Control - The CCN monitors inputs from the door ajar switches, the ignition switch and the WIN. It then provides electronic horn and lighting request messages to the TIPM for the appropriate VTSS alarm output features.
DODGE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS
Two instrument clusters are offered on the Dodge Challenger and the Challenger R/T.
CHALLENGER AND CHALLENGER R/T
The Challenger and Challenger R/T instrument cluster includes the following features:
Horizontal transmission shift-range indicator.
White mask and lens assembly for individual gauges.
Electroluminescent silhouette-lit white gauges (gauges glow white when headlamps are on).
Four large, easy-to-read gauges: fuel, speedometer, engine temperature and tachometer.
Non-lit orange pointers.
Electronic Vehicle Information Center with Driver-Interactive Display, if equipped.
160-mph / 260-kph speedometer.
DODGE CHALLENGER SRT
The Challenger SRT instrument cluster includes the following features:
Horizontal transmission shift-range indicator.
White mask and lens assembly for individual gauges.
Electroluminescent silhouette-lit white gauges (gauges glow white when headlamps are on).
Four large easy to read gauges: fuel, speedometer, tachometer and engine temperature.
Non-lit orange pointers.
Electronic Vehicle Information Center with Driver-Interactive Display.
180-mph / 300-kph speedometer.
APPEARANCE AND LIGHTING
White gauge faces with black nomenclature provide excellent visibility in daylight pointers are non-lit and orange. With the headlamps on, the electroluminescent gauges glow white. The lighting intensity of the gauges can be adjusted to suit the drivers preference, by using the thumbwheel dimmer control that is part of the headlamp switch. Electroluminescent lighting is uniform and glare-free for optimum driver visibility.
FIXED SEGMENT DISPLAYS
On vehicles not equipped with and EVIC the instrument cluster features two fixed-segment, vacuum fluorescent, digital displays, to show the transmission range and odometer reading. The fixed-segment odometer display also includes the following indicators:
Trunk Ajar
Low Wash
Door Ajar
Outside Temperature
Trip
ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER
Eight switches mounted on the steering wheel, controls the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). Pressing the switches conveniently selects from a variety of useful information. The EVIC displays personal settings, hands-free system communication system screens, navigation system screens, trip computer functions, outside temperature, compass headings, audio modes and system status messages including Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) warnings. For more detailed information .