For 1990-2009 cars

### Indicators

The instrument panel cluster includes the following indicators:

• | ABS (if equipped)

• | AIR BAG

• | BRAKE

• | O/D OFF (if equipped)

• | The charge

• | CRUISE (if equipped)

• | The door ajar

• | The hi-beam

• | The low fuel

• | The LH turn signal

• | The RH turn signal

• | The malfunction indicator lamp (Service Engine Soon)

• | The oil pressure

• | The seat belt reminder

The indicator bulbs are serviceable from the rear of the cluster assembly. Refer to Instrument Cluster Bulb Replacement .

The instrument panel cluster indicators may differ from model to model, depending on the following factors:

• | The transaxle selection

• | The options

• | The model selection

### Display 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 occurs at key up:

• | The air bag indicator illuminates briefly.

• | The ABS indicator illuminates briefly.

• | The service engine soon indicator (MIL) stays on until the vehicle is started.

• | The charge indicator stays on until the vehicle is started.

• | The seat belt indicator flashes continually until the drivers seat belt is fastened.

• | The oil pressure indicator stays on until the vehicle is started.

### Gages

The instrument panel cluster will include different combinations of the following gauges, depending on the factors mentioned previously under the "Indicators" section:

• | The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) gauge

• | The fuel gauge

• | The speedometer/odometer

• | An optional engine tachometer

• | A combination fuel and temperature gauge

The gauges are all serviceable from the instrument panel cluster. Refer to Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Replacement , Fuel Gage Replacement , Speedometer Replacement , Tachometer Replacement , or Fuel/Temperature Gage Replacement for gauge removal and installation procedures.

#### Engine Coolant Temperature Gage (ECT)

• | The pointer of the ECT gauge is moved by the magnetic fields of 2 coils (H and C). The coils are at right angles to each other. Voltage is applied to the H coil from the gauge fuse, located in junction block 2, when the ignition is in the ON or START positions. Current flows from the gauge fuse to junction block 3, via the RED/BLU wire between the junction Block 2, C2 cavity 9 and the junction block 3, C3 cavity 5. Current flows to the instrument cluster assembly C1 cavity 2 from the junction block 3, C2 cavity 18. The circuit divides at the opposite side of the coil, this side is attached to ground. One path seeks a ground through coil C and the other path seeks a ground through the variable resistor in the ECT sender unit.

• | When ECT gage is low, resistance in the ECT sending unit is high. Since current will always seek the path of least resistance, current will flow through the H coil and the C coil to ground at G105. Since the length of the C coil is twice the length of the H coil winding, the magnetic field generated by coil C is twice as strong as the magnetic field by coil H. Therefore the pointer will be pulled to the C position.

• | As the ECT temperature increases, resistance in the ECT sending unit decreases. Since current flows to the path of least resistance, more current will begin to bypass the C coil and travel directly to ground through the ECT sending unit. Under these conditions the coil H magnetic field becomes stronger than the coil C magnetic field and the pointer moves towards the H position.

#### Fuel Gage

• | The pointer of the fuel gage is moved by the magnetic fields of 2 coils (F and E). The coils are at right angles to each other. Voltage is applied to the F coil from the gage fuse, located in junction block 2, when the ignition is in the ON or START positions. Current flows from the gauge fuse to junction block 3, via the RED/BLU wire between the junction block 2, C2 cavity 9 and the junction block 3, C3 cavity 5. Current flows to the instrument cluster assembly C1 cavity 2 from the junction block 3, C2 cavity 18. The circuit divides at the opposite side of the coil, this side is attached to ground. One path seeks a ground through coil E and the other path seek a ground through the variable resistor in the fuel gage.

• | When the fuel level is low, resistance in the fuel sender assembly is high. Since current will always seek the path of least resistance, current will flow through the F coil and the E coil to ground at G202. Since the length of the F coil is twice the length of the E coil winding, the magnetic field generated by coil E is twice as strong as the magnetic field by coil F. Therefore the pointer will be pulled to the EMPTY position.

• | As the fuel level rises, resistance in the fuel sender assembly decreases. Since current flows to the path of least resistance, more current will begin to bypass the E coil and travel directly to ground through the fuel sender assembly. Under these conditions the coil F magnetic field becomes stronger than the coil E magnetic field and the pointer moves towards the FULL position.

#### Speedometer/Odometer

• | Voltage is applied to the speedometer/odometer from the gage fuse, located in junction block 2, when the ignition is in the ON or START positions. Current flows from the gauge fuse to Junction Block 3, via the RED/BLU wire between the junction block 2, C2 cavity 9 and the junction block 3, C3 cavity 5. Current flows to the instrument cluster assembly C1 cavity 2 from the junction block 3 C2 cavity 18.

• | The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is a gear-driven permanent magnet generator housed in the vehicle's transaxle. This sensor generates a sine wave output with a frequency proportional to vehicle speed. This signal has an output that is switched to ground at a frequency of 1 Hz per Mile per hour. This signal drives the speedometer and odometer. The speedometer sends a signal to the PCM and the cruise control system through the PPL/WHT wire splitting at the junction block 3.

| Notice: When replacing a speedometer/odometer assembly, the law requires that the odometer reading of the replacement unit be set in order to register the same mileage as the prior odometer. If the same mileage cannot be set, the law requires that the replacement odometer be turned to zero. A label must be installed on the driver's door frame in order to show the previous odometer reading and the date of replacement.

• | The season odometer displays the total accumulated miles of the vehicle. This value is permanently stored in the instrument cluster. When an instrument cluster is replaced the law requires either the odometer reading of the replacement unit be set to register the original mileage or that a label be installed on the driver's door frame to show the previous odometer reading and the date of replacement. Since the mileage can NOT be set on the odometer in this vehicle an odometer label must be used.

| The trip odometer displays the accumulated miles to the tenths of a mile since the last reset.

#### Tachometer

• | Voltage is applied to the tachometer from the gage fuse, located in junction block 2, when the ignition is in the ON or START positions. Current flows from the gage fuse to junction block 3, via the RED/BLU wire between the junction block 2, C2 cavity 9 and the junction block 3, C3 cavity 5. Current flows to the instrument cluster assembly C1 cavity 2 from the junction block 3, C2 cavity 18.

• | The tachometer displays engine speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). Engine RPM data is received from the PCM through the BLK wire between the PCM C3 cavity 8 to the instrument cluster assembly C3 cavity 3, after going through SP258. The tachometer responds to the frequency of the pulses the PCM send it, when the pulses increase the tachometer increases.

#### Combination Fuel/Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

This combination gage is serviced as a unit, however the electrical circuitry is the same as described above under the "Fuel Gage" and "Engine Coolant Temperature Gage (ECT)" sections, respectively.