The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is equipped with a 20 character vacuum fluorescent display feature. This feature provides the driver with specific warning/status messages associated with certain vehicle malfunctions and/or instructions to perform. Warning messages are displayed in a ranked priority, with the higher priority messages (priority 1) displayed first. If the ignition is cycled, the IPC will display the last message before the ignition was cycled. Many messages coincide with indicators and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) that may be set. DTCs must always be diagnosed first prior to diagnosing any warning messages. Unlike other vehicle electronic systems, such as PCM, SIR, etc., some systems have no specific ERROR lamp to indicate a malfunction. A DTC-setting malfunction in any system connected to the serial data line may be indicated by a specific message displayed in the IPCs display. Other system malfunctions will only set a DTC and will not display a message. Refer to the appropriate system diagnosis for a description on how each DTC set and how it will be indicated. Warning messages will be displayed in all display modes except configuration and Diagnostic modes. When a warning message is displayed, the message overwrites any current displays. The IPC will continue to display this message until the system that requested the message sends a Stop Broadcasting Message on the serial data line to the IPC. Warning message may also be acknowledged/cleared by pressing the RESET button when that message is displayed except if a system requests a continuous message display. The following table indicates possible messages that may be displayed by the IPC and what system is responsible for sending the request:
