GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Step

Action

Normal Result(s)

Abnormal Result(s)*

1

Turn the ignition switch to ACCY

    • The speedometer reads 0 km/h/h (0 mp/h)
    • The tachometer reads 0 RPM
    • The engine coolant temperature gauge reads Cold
    • The fuel gauge reads the last position
    • All the indicators are OFF
    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Gauges Inoperative - All
    • Speedometer or Odometer Inoperative
    • Tachometer Inoperative

2

Turn the ignition switch to OFF-LOCK

    • The speedometer reads 0 km/h/h (0 mp/h)
    • The tachometer reads 0 RPM
    • The engine coolant temperature gauge reads Cold
    • The fuel gauge reads the last position
    • All the indicators are OFF
    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Gauges Inoperative - All
    • Speedometer or Odometer Inoperative
    • Tachometer Inoperative

3

Turn the ignition switch to OFF-UNLOCK

    • The fuel gauge reads the last position
    • All indicators are OFF except the following:
       - ABS - ON (yellow)
       - AIR BAG - ON (red)
       - BRAKE - ON (red)
       - CHECK GAUGES (Oldsmobile and Buick) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if there is a high temperature or low fuel (red)
       - CHECK OIL - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (yellow)
       - CRUISE - 3 seconds ON. then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (green, Buick and Oldsmobile only).
       - ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if there is a high temperature or low fuel
       - ETS OFF (4-speed only) ON (yellow)
       - FUEL GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if there is a high temperature or low fuel (yellow).
       - HIGH BEAM - ON per headlamp status (blue).
       - LOW COOLANT - 3  seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the SDL (red).
       - LOW TRAC - (Optional with Oldsmobile and Pontiac with 4-speed automatic transaxle only) - ON (yellow)
       - LOW WASH (Oldsmobile) -ON (yellow)
       - OIL PRESSURE - ON (red)
       - SEAT BELT -ON (red)
       - SECURITY (Oldsmobile) - ON (red)
       - THEFT SYSTEM (Pontiac and Buick) - ON (red)
       - UP SHIFT (manual transaxle only) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (yellow).
       - VOLTS - ON (red)
    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Gauges Inoperative - All
    • Speedometer or Odometer Inoperative
    • Tachometer Inoperative

4

Turn the ignition switch to RUN.

The indicators exhibit the following conditions:

   • 

ABS - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the EBCM over the UART (yellow).

   • 

AIR BAG - Flash, then OFF. Controlled by the SIR module over the UART (red).

   • 

BRAKE - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the ABS module over the UART and the brake switch input to the cluster (red).

   • 

CHECK ENGINE- ON until the engine runs. The hard wire is controlled by the PCM (yellow).

   • 

CHECK GAUGES (Oldsmobile and Buick) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. On if the temperature is high or the fuel is low (red)

   • 

CHECK OIL - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (yellow).

   • 

CRUISE - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (green) (Buick and Oldsmobile only).

   • 

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. On if there is a high temperature (red).

   • 

ETS OFF (4-speed only) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the ABS module over the UART (yellow).

   • 

FUEL GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if there is low fuel (yellow).

   • 

HIGH BEAM - ON per the headlamp status (blue).

   • 

LEFT TURN - ON per the signal status (green).

   • 

LOW COOLANT - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (red).

   • 

LOW TRAC (Optional with Oldsmobile and Pontiac/4-speed automatic transaxle only) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the EBCM over the UART (yellow).

   • 

LOW WASH - 3 seconds ON, then OFF (yellow) (Oldsmobile only).

   • 

OIL PRESSURE - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (red).

   • 

PRNDL - Controlled by the PCM over the UART (red).

   • 

RIGHT TURN - ON per the turn signal status (green).

   • 

SEAT BELT - Steady ON for 20 seconds and then flashes for 55 seconds. Turns OFF when the seat belt is buckled. Per the buckle status from the SDM over the UART (red).

   • 

SECURITY (Oldsmobile) - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the anti-theft algorithm PCM (red).

   • 

THEFT SYSTEM (Buick and Oldsmobile) - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the anti-theft algorithm PCM (red).

   • 

UP SHIFT (manual transaxle only) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (yellow).

   • 

VOLTS - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the volts control module (PCM) (red).

    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Gauges Inoperative - All
    • Speedometer or Odometer Inoperative
    • Tachometer Inoperative

5

Turn the ignition switch to START/CRANK

The indicators exhibit the following conditions:

   • 

ABS - ON (yellow)

   • 

AIR BAG - ON (red)

   • 

BRAKE - ON (red)

   • 

CHECK ENGINE - ON until the engine runs. The hard wire is controlled by the PCM (yellow).

   • 

CHECK GAUGES (Oldsmobile and Buick) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if the temperature is high or the fuel is low (red).

   • 

CHECK OIL - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART.

   • 

CRUISE - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (green) (Buick and Oldsmobile).

   • 

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if the temperature is high (red).

   • 

ETS OFF (4-speed only) - ON (yellow)

   • 

FUEL GAUGE CHECK (Pontiac) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. ON if the fuel is low (yellow).

   • 

HIGH BEAM - ON per the headlamp status (blue)

   • 

LEFT TURN - ON per the turn signal status (green).

   • 

LOW COOLANT - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (red).

   • 

LOW TRAC (Optional with Oldsmobile and Pontiac/4-speed automatic transaxle only) - ON (yellow).

   • 

LOW WASH -3 seconds ON, then OFF (yellow) (Oldsmobile)

   • 

OIL PRESSURE - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (red).

   • 

PRNDL - Controlled by the PCM over the UART (Buick) (yellow)

   • 

RIGHT TURN - ON per the turn signal status (green).

   • 

SEAT BELT - Steady ON for 20 seconds, then flashes for 55 seconds. OFF when the seat belt is buckled. Per the buckle status from the SDM over the UART (red).

   • 

SECURITY (Oldsmobile) - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the anti-theft algorithm PCM (red).

   • 

THEFT SYSTEM (Buick and Oldsmobile) - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the anti-theft algorithm PCM (red).

   • 

UP SHIFT (manual transaxle) - 3 seconds ON, then OFF. Controlled by the PCM over the UART (yellow).

   • 

VOLTS - ON until the engine runs. Controlled by the volts algorithm PCM (red).

    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Gauges Inoperative - All
    • Speedometer or Odometer Inoperative
    • Tachometer Inoperative

* Refer to the appropriate symptom diagnostic table for the applicable abnormal result.