GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2008 🢒 G6 🢒 Diagnostic Navigation 🢒 Vehicle Diagnostic Information 🢒 Instrument Cluster Description and Operation

Displays Test

Certain instrument panel cluster (IPC) features are tested when the ignition is turned on in order to verify the features are working properly. The following indicators illuminate briefly at key up unless otherwise noted:

    • Antilock brake system (ABS)
    • Air bag (flashes 7 times)
    • Brake system
    • Change oil
    • Charging system
    • Cruise control
    • Electric power steering
    • Engine oil pressure
    • Fasten safety belt
    • Low coolant level
    • Low engine oil level
    • Low fuel
    • Low traction
    • Low washer fluid
    • MPH (Km/h)
    • Security
    • Service vehicle soon
    • Shift indicator
    • Stability system off
    • Stability system on
    • Traction off
    • Traction system on
    • Turn signal

Refer to Indicator/Warning Message Description and Operation.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the engine coolant temperature as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC receives a serial data message from the ECM indicating the engine coolant temperature. The engine coolant temperature gage defaults to 38°C (100°F) if:

    • The ECM detects a malfunction in the engine coolant temperature sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communications from the BCM.

Fuel Gage

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the fuel level as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC receives a serial data message from the body control module (BCM) indicating the fuel level. The fuel gage defaults to E (empty) if:

    • The ECM detects a malfunction in the fuel level sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communications from the BCM.

When the fuel level is less than 14 percent, the low fuel indicator illuminates.

Odometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays a season odometer and a trip odometer. Momentarily press the trip/reset switch in order to toggle between the season odometer and the trip odometer. Press the trip/reset switch for greater than 2 seconds, while the trip odometer is displayed, in order to reset the trip odometer. The odometer is calculated and stored electronically in the body control module (BCM). The BCM uses the vehicle speed information from the engine control module (ECM) to calculate the odometer. The odometer displays 'error' if an internal IPC memory failure is detected. The IPC stores a backup copy of the odometer value incase the IPC stops receiving a valid odometer value from the BCM. The odometer will display 'error' if an internal IPC memory failure is detected.

Speedometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the vehicle speed based on the information from the ECM. The IPC receives the vehicle speed information from the BCM via the serial data circuit. The speedometer defaults to 0 kmh (0 mph) when the following occurs:

    • The engine control module (ECM) detects a malfunction in the vehicle speed sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communication from the BCM.

Tachometer

The instrument panel cluster (IPC) displays the engine speed as determined by the engine control module (ECM). The IPC receives a serial data message from the body control module (BCM) indicating the engine speed. The tachometer will default to 0 RPM if:

    • The ECM detects a malfunction in the engine speed sensor circuit.
    • The IPC detects a loss of serial data communication from the BCM.