GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Air Bag Telltale

The air bag telltale is a light emitting diode (LED) display that is located in the IPC. The air bag telltale indicator is operated by the supplemental inflatable restraint diagnostic energy reserve module (SIR DERM). Refer to SIR in Restraints.

Gate Ajar Telltale (Utility Only)

The gate ajar telltale display is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The gate ajar telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The gate ajar telltale turns ON when the IPC receives Class 2 information from the body control module (BCM) that requests the gate ajar telltale indicator to turn ON.

Up-Shift Telltale (Manual Transmission Only)

The up-shift telltale is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The up-shift telltale display is operated by the IPC with software control. The up-shift telltale display turns ON when the IPC receives Class 2 information from the vehicle control module (VCM) or the powertrain control module (PCM) that requests the up-shift telltale to turn ON. The up-shift indicator in the instrument cluster turns on in order to indicate the optimum shift points for maximum fuel economy. Shift the transmission to the next higher gear range, if the conditions permit, when the lamp turns on. Control of the up-shift indicator is a function of the PCM/ VCM. The following conditions are monitored:

    • The engine speed
    • The load
    • The throttle position

These conditions determine if the PCM/ VCM will turn the lamp on. If the lamp is erratic or inoperative, verify the integrity of the circuit. Replace the PCM/VCM if no resolution is found.

Anti-Lock Telltale

The anti-lock telltale display is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The anti-lock telltale display is operated by the ABS module. The anti-lock telltale turns ON for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position.

The anti-lock telltale will also turn ON when one of the following actions occurs:

    • The IPC receives Class 2 information from the electronic brake control module (EBCM) requesting the anti-lock telltale to turn ON.
    • The cluster loses Class 2 communication with the EBCM. Refer to Antilock Brakes and Traction Control for details.
    • A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) will be stored related to the system malfunction.

The brake telltale is a LED display located in the IPC. The brake telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The brake telltale turns ON for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. Both the BCM and the EBCM may instruct the IPC to turn ON the brake telltale by Class 2 communication. Refer to Body Control Module and Antilock Brakes and Traction Control for details.

Check Gauges Telltale

The check gauges telltale is a LED display located in the IPC. The check gauges telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The check gauges telltale turns ON for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. When the engine is running the IPC is constantly monitoring the engine coolant temperature information provided over the Class 2 serial data bus by the VCM/PCM, the engine oil pressure which is a direct feed from the oil pressure sensor to the IPC. The IPC will turn the check gauges telltale LED ON if the engine coolant temperature gets too high or the engine oil pressure gets too low.

Service 4WD Telltale

The service 4WD telltale is a LED display located in the IPC. The service 4WD telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The transfer case control module (TCCM) uses Class 2 communication in order to inform the IPC when to turn ON the service 4WD telltale.

Seat Belt Telltale

The seat belt telltale is a LED display located and operated in the IPC with software control. The BCM uses Class 2 communication in order to inform the IPC when to turn ON the seat belt telltale. The S/T vehicles have an enhanced seat belt warning system. The system activates the following components when the ignition has been turned to the RUN position and the driver's seat belt has not been buckled:

    • The warning lamp for about 75 seconds
    • The audible warning for 8 seconds

The warning lamp will be constant for the first 20 seconds and will flash for the remaining 55 seconds. The audible warning will stay on when the driver seat belt is not fastened during the 8 second time period. The sequence of operation of the warning lamp and audible warning follows:

The Driver Seat Belt Is Unbuckled.

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position.
  2. The warning lamp illuminates constantly for 20 seconds.
  3. The audible warning turn on and stays on for 8 seconds, then turns off.

  4. The warning lamp flashes for the remaining 55 seconds.
  5. If the driver seat belt buckle is buckled before the 8 second period is over, the audible warning and the lamp turn off.

The Driver Seat Belt Is Buckled.

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position.
  2. The warning lamp illuminates for 75 seconds.
  3. The audible warning stays off.

  4. The warning lamp turns off after 75 seconds.
  5. If the driver seat belt buckle is unbuckled during the first 8 seconds, the audible warning will turn on for the rest of the 8 second delay.
  6. Refer to Audible Warnings for more details.

High Beam Indicator

The high beam indicator is a lamp that is located in the IPC. The high beam Indicator is operated by the IPC with software control. The BCM uses a Class 2 communication in order to inform the IPC when to turn ON the high beam indicator lamp. Refer to Lighting Systems for details.

Security Telltale

The security telltale is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The security telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The BCM uses Class 2 communication in order to inform the IPC when to turn ON the security telltale. Refer to Theft Deterrent for more information. A DTC will be stored related to the system malfunction.

Turn Signal Indicators

The turn signal indicator is an incandescent lamp that is located in the IPC. The turn signal indicator lamp is directly operated by the turn signal switch and the turn signal flasher. Refer to Lighting Systems for more information.

Overspeed Alarm Telltale (Export Only)

The overspeed alarm telltale is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The overspeed alarm telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The BCM uses a Class 2 communication in order to inform the IPC when to turn ON the overspeed alarm telltale. Refer to Engine Controls for more information. The overspeed alarm telltale will turn ON for 3 seconds when one of the following actions occurs:

    • The ignition switch is turned to the RUN position.
    • Whenever the telltale is commanded on by the BCM.

Brake Telltale

The brake warning telltale is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The brake warning telltale is operated by the ABS module and the BCM. The brake warning telltale indicates a low fluid pressure condition in the brake system when the telltale finds ground in the combination valve through the pressure differential switch. The brake warning telltale also indicates when the park brake is applied. The telltale determines that the park brake is applied when it finds ground through the park brake switch. Refer to Brake Warning Lamp Description in Hydraulic Brakes.

The BCM will command the telltale ON in order to indicate that the park brake is engaged. The EBCM will command the telltale ON in order to indicate a low fluid pressure condition.

Low Fuel Telltale

The low fuel telltale is a LED display is that is located in the IPC. The low fuel telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The low fuel telltale will turn ON for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the RUN position. The VCM/PCM constantly sends Class 2 messages that inform the IPC of the fuel level when the ignition switch is in the RUN position. The IPC uses the Class 2 fuel level information in order to operate the fuel gauge. The information is also used in order to determine when the low fuel telltale should be turned ON.

Battery Telltale

The battery telltale is a LED display that is located in the IPC. The battery telltale is operated by the IPC with software control. The VCM/PCM uses Class 2 communication in order to instruct the IPC to turn ON or turn OFF the battery telltale. When the ignition switch is turned from OFF to UNLOCK the battery telltale will turn ON. The battery telltale will remain ON while the ignition switch is moved from UNLOCK to RUN. The battery telltale will remain ON until the ignition switch is turned to the CRANK position and back to the RUN position. Once the RUN-after-CRANK condition is reached the IPC will keep the battery telltale ON for 3 seconds. The IPC will then respond to the last Class 2 message from the VCM/PCM. The VCM/PCM will order the IPC to turn the battery telltale OFF if the generator is charging. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) will be stored in the VCM/PCM related to the system malfunction.

Service Engine Soon -- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)

The service engine soon telltale, or the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), is a LED display located in the IPC. The MIL is operated directly by the VCM/PCM. The MIL should turn on with the ignition switch in the RUN position and the engine off. The lamp should turn off 1-5 seconds after the engine starts. Service to the emission control system may be required if the lamp stays on or turns on while driving. Refer to Symptoms in Engine Controls 2.2L or Symptoms in Engine Controls 4.3L for more diagnostic information.

PRNDL Indicator (Park Reverse Neutral Drive Low)

The PRNDL display is a variable function electronic display located in the IPC. The PRNDL display is capable of displaying PRND321. The display electronically illuminates, or lights the back of the desired character in order to indicate the gear selection in the transmission. The IPC controls the PRNDL by use of the Class 2 messages that are received from the PCM/VCM. The vehicles with automatic transmissions have an electronic park reverse neutral drive low (PRNDL) range indicator. The system uses the signals from the neutral safety back up (NSBU) switch on the side of the transmission. Signals from this switch determine which LED is in the electronic PRNDL will light. The system is electronic. No internal adjustment is needed. Refer to Transmission/Transaxle for diagnostic information.