GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Buick 🢒 1998 🢒 LeSabre 🢒 Body and Accessories 🢒 Instrument Panel, Gauges, and Console 🢒 Instrument Cluster System Check

Instrument Cluster (IPC) System Check

Step

Action

Normal Result(s)

Abnormal Result(s)*

1
  1. Close all of the vehicle's doors.
  2. Leave the safety belt unbuckled.
  3. Verify the gear selector is in the PARK position.
  4. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
    • The vehicle performs a bulb check on the indicators. The following indicators illuminate briefly:
       - Driver Information Center
       - ABS
       - Traction OFF
       - Air Bag
       - Fasten Belts
       - Battery Charge
       - Malfunction Indicator (UB3 Pontiac)
       - Check Gauges (UB3 Pontiac)
       - Engine Coolant Temperature
       - Check Oil Level (UB3 Pontiac)
       - Engine Oil Pressure
       - Compass Display (U50/U2F Pontiac)
       - Park Brake
       - Security
    • The vehicle performs a check on the following gauges (the gauge pointers sweep through the appropriate range):
       - Engine Temperature
       - Fuel
       - Voltmeter (UB3/U50 Pontiac)
       - Boost (U2F Pontiac)
       - Coolant Temperature
    • All of the compass display segments will light for about 3 seconds (U50/U2F Pontiac):
       - After 3 seconds, the vehicle heading displays
       - For 3 seconds, ZONE and the current zone number display
    • All Gauges Inoperative
    • Battery Charge Indicator Inoperative in Starter and Charging
    • Engine Coolant Temperature Indicator Inoperative
    • Engine Oil Pressure Indicator Inoperative.
    • Security Indicator Inoperative. Refer to Theft Deterrent Diagnostic System Check in Theft Deterrent.
    • CALIBRATE displays. Refer to Manual Calibration Mode.

2
  1. Buckle the driver's safety belt.
  2. Observe the fasten safety belt indicator.

The fasten safety belt indicator is off.

Fasten Safety Belt Indicator Always On

3

Apply the park brake.

The park brake indicator illuminates.

Brake Warning Indicator Inoperative. Refer to Brake Warning System Check in Hydraulic Brakes.

4
    • Operate the left turn signal.
    • Operate the right turn signal.

Each turn signal indicator flashes.
    • Left Turn Indicator Is Inoperative
    • Right Turn Indicator Inoperative
    • Left Turn Indicator Always On
    • Right Turn Indicator Always On

5

Turn the headlights on.
    • The IPC illumination turns on and dims to the setting on the dimmer control.
    • The LIGHTS ON indicator illuminates (Buick and Olds w/UH8).

IPC Illumination Inoperative. Refer to Interior Lights Dimming System Check in Lighting Systems.

6

Adjust the instrument panel dimmer control.

The IPC illumination varies based on the dimmer control adjustment.

IPC Illumination Does Not Vary. Refer to Interior Lights Dimming System Check in Lighting Systems.

7

Turn the high beam headlamps on.

The high beam indicator illuminates.
    • High Beam Indicator Inoperative
    • High Beam Indicator Is Always On

8

Start the engine.
    • The engine cranks and starts.
    • The speedometer displays zero.

Engine Does Not Start. Refer to Theft Deterrent System PASS Key System Check in Theft Deterrent.

9

Press the IPC control button E/M (Olds w/UH8).

The measurement units change for the IPC and HVAC displays.

Driver Information Switch Inop - English/Metric

10

Press and hold the IPC control button TRIP for 3 seconds while trip odometer is displayed (Olds w/UH8).

The trip odometer resets to zero.

Driver Information Switch Inop - Trip Reset

11

Press the IPC control Button TRIP select (Olds w/UH8).

The IPC toggles between trip odometer and total odometer values.

Driver Information Switch Inop - Trip A/B

12

Observe the fuel gauge.

The fuel gauge indicates the correct fuel level.
    • Fuel Gauge Inaccurate or Inoperative
    • Fuel Gauge Always Indicates Empty
    • Fuel Gauge Always Indicates Full

13

Observe the engine temperature gauge.

The engine temperature gauge indicates the correct engine temperature.

Engine Coolant Temp Gauge Inaccurate/Inoperative

14

Observe the tachometer.

The tachometer indicates the correct engine speed.

Tachometer Does Not Operate Properly

15

Observe the Service Engine Soon indicator.

Service Engine Soon indicator is off.

Service Engine Soon Indicator On. Refer to Engine Controls Diagnostic System Check. in Engine Controls.

16

Observe the low engine oil indicator.

The low engine oil indicator is off.

Engine Oil Pressure Indicator Always On

17

Observe the battery charge indicator.

The battery charge indicator is off.

Battery Charge Indicator Always On. Refer to Engine Electrical.

18

Observe the Air Bag indicator.

The Air Bag indicator is off.

Air Bag Indicator On. Refer to SIR Diagnostic System Check in SIR.

19

Observe the ABS indicator.

The ABS indicator is off.

ABS Indicator On. Refer to ABS Diagnostic System Check in ABS.

20

Observe the traction control indicator (if equipped).

The traction control indicator is off.

Traction Control Indicator On. Refer to ABS Diagnostic System Check in ABS.

21

Observe the engine coolant temperature indicator.

The engine coolant temperature indicator off.

Engine Coolant Temperature Indicator Always On

22

Observe the SECURITY indicator.

The SECURITY indicator is off.

Security Indicator On. Refer to Theft Deterrent System PASS Key System Check in Theft Deterrent.

23

Cycle the gear selector lever through all of the gear positions.
    • The PRNDL displays the correct gear positions.
    • The park brake indicator turns off.
    • PRNDL Indicator Inoperative
    • Brake Warning Indicator Always On. Refer to Brake Warning System Check in Hydraulic Brakes.

24
  1. Drive vehicle at 48 km/h (30 mph).
  2. Ensure that the cruise switch is ON (Buick only).
  3. Push the SET CRUISE button (Buick only).
    • The speedometer and the odometer operate properly.
    • Cruise indicator illuminates (Buick only).

Speedometer and/or Odometer Inoperative

25

Turn the hazard flashers on.

Both turn indicators flash.

Hazard flashers inoperative

26

For Pontiac U50/U2F, perform the following steps:

  1. Turn the rear defogger OFF.
  2. Drive the vehicle to a flat area. Ensure that the area is at least 15 m (50 ft) from buildings and other cars.
  3. Verify that you are using the correct zone number.
  4. Drive the vehicle in the following directions:
    5. • North
    • South
    • East
    • West
    • The correct zone number displays.
    • The compass display shows the correct vehicle heading.
    • The incorrect zone number displays. Refer to Variation Mode.

27

For Pontiac U50/U2F, perform the following steps:

  1. Turn the rear defogger ON.
  2. Drive the vehicle in the following directions:
    3. • North
    • South
    • East
    • West

The compass display shows the correct vehicle heading.

Instrument Cluster Compass Display

28

For Pontiac U50/U2F, perform the following steps:

  1. Turn the headlights ON.
  2. Use the IP dimming switch in order to vary the intensity of the compass display.

The IP dimming switch varies the compass display intensity with the headlights on.

The IP dimming switch does not vary the compass display intensity with the headlights on. Refer to Lighting System Check in Lighting Systems.

29
  1. Turn the ignition switch to RUN.
  2. Operate all of the exterior lights.
  3. Inspect the driver information center (DIC) for a bulb outage.

No bulb outages are displayed and all exterior lamps light properly.
    • Driver Information Center (DIC) Does Not Display Bulb Outages or Displays LAMP MONITOR PROB
    • Driver Information Center (DIC Working Properly, but Does Not Display a Specific Bulb Outage

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