Section 31 (Instrument Cluster (Service Information) 500 - Electric): Description: Description
The Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Instrument Panel Cluster/IPC) (1) for this vehicle is located in the instrument panel above the steering column opening. The IC gauges and indicators are visible through an opening in the cluster bezel (2) and are protected by a clear plastic cluster lens that is secured to the cluster housing by integral latch formations. The IC is circular in shape except for a control pod formation containing three push buttons that extends from the lower right quadrant of the cluster housing. The remainder of the IC including the housing, the four mounting tabs and the electrical connection, are concealed within the instrument panel behind the cluster bezel. The cluster bezel has clearance holes for the control push buttons and creates a hood-like formation that serves as a visor that shields the face of the cluster from ambient light and reflections to reduce glare.
The molded plastic cluster housing (1) encloses and protects the perimeter of the IC unit. The cluster housing serves as the carrier for the instrument cluster circuitry, the gauge set, the indicators, an electronic display unit as well as an audible tone transducer. Each of the cluster hard indicators as well as the general cluster illumination is provided by dedicated Light Emitting Diode (LED) units soldered to the cluster electronic circuit board. A molded plastic rear cover includes clearance holes for the connector receptacle (3) and is secured to the cluster housing by four screws (2). The connector receptacle on the back of the IC electronic circuit board connects the unit to the electrical system of the vehicle through a dedicated take out and connector of the instrument panel wire harness.
Just behind the cluster lens is the molded plastic cluster mask. The mask serves to separate and define the layout of the various visible areas of the IC and also trims the cluster overlay. The mask lays over the cluster overlay, which is a laminated plastic unit. The dark, visible, outer surface of the overlay is marked with all of the gauge dial faces and graduations, but this layer is also translucent. The darkness of this outer layer prevents the cluster from appearing cluttered or busy by concealing the hard indicators that are not illuminated, while the translucence of this layer allows those hard indicators that are illuminated to be readily visible. The underlying layer of the overlay is opaque and allows light from the hard indicator LED units to be visible through the outer layer of the overlay through predetermined stencil-like cutouts. The defined areas of the IC are:
- Indicator Ring (1)
- The indicator ring (also known as the telltales ring) has provisions for up to 31 individual hard indicators as well as an ambient light sensor.
Refer to DESCRIPTION .
- Speedometer (2)
- This is the digital speedometer display.
- Electronic Display Unit (3)
- This is the electronic display unit. It includes electronic bar graph fuel and temperature gauges. It also provides a clock display, an odometer display, several trip computer functions, a message center, numerous predetermined soft indicators and several reconfigurable display options.
Refer to DESCRIPTION .
- Message Center Switch Pod (4)
- These push buttons provide the interface for setting up or changing the reconfigurable display settings of the electronic display unit in the IC.
Refer to DESCRIPTION .
Several versions of the IC are offered on this vehicle. These versions accommodate all of the variations of optional equipment and regulatory requirements for the various markets in which the vehicle is offered. The microcontroller-based IC utilizes integrated circuitry and information carried on the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus along with several hard wired inputs to monitor other sensors and switches in the vehicle. In response to those inputs, the internal circuitry and programming of the IC allow it to monitor many electronic functions and features of the vehicle. It also transmits electronic message outputs to other electronic modules in the vehicle over the CAN data bus and is a Local Interface Network (LIN) master node to the LIN slave node of the optional Abarth turbo boost gauge and upshift indicator unit.
The IC gauges, indicators, LED units, control switches as well as the electronic display unit are all integral components of the IC and its electronic circuit board. If any part of the IC is damaged or ineffective, the entire IC assembly must be replaced.