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Home >> Ford >> 2017 >> Explorer Platinum >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Accessories & Equipment >> Gauges & Instrument Panels >> Information Center - Instrumentation, Message Center And Warning Chimes >> Description And Operation >> Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - Overview

Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - Overview

Overview 

The IPC uses the following methods and functionality to alert the driver of vehicle conditions:

Base IPC 

GFD125040Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Item Description
1 Tachometer
2 Main menu display
3 LH turn indicator
4 ABS warning indicator
5 Stability-traction control indicator (sliding car icon)
6 Stability-traction control disabled indicator (sliding car OFF icon)
7 TPMS warning indicator
8 MIL
9 Safety belt warning indicator
10 Lane keeping system off RTT indicator
11 Air bag warning indicator
12 Cruise control RTT indicator
13 Brake warning indicator
14 RH turn indicator
15 Lane keeping system/forward collision warning display
16 Speedometer
17 Fuel gauge
18 Lights on indicator
19 High beam indicator
20 Odometer display area
21 Compass
22 Main message center display area
23 PRNDL display
24 RTT indicator display area
BLIS® off
Charging system
Door ajar
Engine coolant over-temperature
Frost (if equipped [Japan, South Korea, Europe, China, Russia markets only])
Hood ajar
Liftgate ajar
Liftgate unlocked (lock delay) (police option)
Low engine oil pressure
Low fuel
Low washer fluid level
Powertrain malfunction (wrench)
25 Auto high beam RTT
26 Rear fog lamp indicator (if equipped)
27 SelectShift® display
28 Front fog lamp indicator
29 Tow haul indicator
30 Temperature gauge
31 LED low beam malfunction indicator

Mid-Level IPC 

GFD125041Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Item Description
1 Message center menu navigation indication
2 Selected menu text display
3 RTT indicator display area
BLIS® off
Charging system
Door ajar
Engine coolant over-temperature
Frost (if equipped [Japan, South Korea, Europe, China, Russia markets only])
Hood ajar
Liftgate ajar
Low engine oil pressure
Low fuel
Low washer fluid level
Powertrain malfunction (wrench)
4 Main message center/virtual gauge display area
5 Auto high beam indicator
6 MIL
7 Temperature gauge (fuel gauge with temperature gauge turned off)
8 Fuel gauge
9 Speedometer
10 TPMS warning indicator
11 Infotainment menu navigation indication
12 Compass display
13 Multimedia display
Virtual compass display
14 Clock
15 Stability-traction control disabled indicator (sliding car OFF icon)
16 Stability-traction control indicator (sliding car icon)
17 Air bag warning indicator
18 Safety belt warning indicator
19 Brake warning indicator
20 RH turn indicator
21 High beam indicator
22 PRNDL display
23 LH turn indicator
24 SelectShift® display
25 ABS warning indicator
26 Tow haul RTT indicator
27 LED low beam indicator
28 Rear fog lamp indicator (if equipped)
29 Cruise control RTT indicator
30 Front fog lamp indicator
31 Lights on indicator
32 Odometer display area

High-Level IPC 

GFD125042Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Item Description
1 Tachometer
2 Message center display area
3 Compass
4 LH turn indicator
5 Stability-traction control indicator (sliding car icon)
6 Stability-traction control disabled indicator (sliding car OFF icon)
7 LED low beam malfunction indicator
8 TPMS warning indicator
9 MIL
10 Auto high beam RTT indicator
11 ABS warning indicator
12 Brake warning indicator
13 RH turn indicator
14 Infotainment display area
15 Digital speed display
Forward collision display
Adaptive cruise control display
Lane keeping aid display
16 Speedometer
17 Cruise control indicator
18 DTE display
19 Low fuel warning indicator
20 Fuel gauge
21 RTT indicator display area
BLIS® off
Charging system
Door ajar
Engine over-temperature
Frost (if equipped [Japan, South Korea, Europe, China, Russia markets only])
Hood ajar
Liftgate ajar
Low oil pressure
Low washer fluid level
Powertrain malfunction (wrench)
22 Safety belt warning indicator
23 Airbag warning indicator
24 High beam indicator
25 SelectShift® display
26 PRNDL display
27 Odometer
28 Rear fog lamp indicator (if equipped)
29 Front fog lamp indicator
30 Lights on indicator
31 Compass display
32 Temperature gauge
33 AWD/ 4WD gauge display

The base IPC uses a single 4.2" color thin film transistor message center display to display driver information.

The mid-level IPC uses dual RH and LH 4.2" thin film transistor screens to display driver information. The LH display screen contains the virtual gauge displays and message center information. The RH display screen displays multimedia information (audio, phone and navigation), as well as items such as vehicle direction, outside air temperature and time.

The dual screen message center IPC utilizes mostly virtual gauges. Virtual gauges are video displays that provide information in a unique format. The exception is the speedometer, which is still an analog-type gauge. Each virtual gauge is somewhat different in how it is displayed.

The high-level IPC utilizes a 10.1" color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display for all cluster information. This is a complete virtual IPC without any analog gauges or LED-type indicators. All indicators and gauges appear similar to the base and mid-level IPC. The message center and adaptive cruise control information is displayed in overlays over the center of the tachometer and speedometer respectively, covering the center portion of the gauge needle images. The IPC has a feature called the quiet mode, where all overlays are turned off and basic cluster images return to normal functionality

To alert the driver of vehicle conditions, the IPC uses:

Informational indicators inform the driver of conditions that exist in the vehicle. Warning indicators provide information to the driver of conditions that could potentially cause personal injury or alter vehicle performance.

RTT indicators illuminate in the message center and replace the typical informational or warning indicator, using the same graphical representation. The message center displays RTT indicators in both fixed locations and in a rotating display where they are turned on in the order the request was received by the IPC.

Network Messaged Inputs 

Module messaging has increased over time and is the standard for sending and receiving information required to operate the IPC. The majority of the inputs required to operate the IPC are received over the HS-CAN3.

Hardwired Inputs 

The IPC requires hardwired inputs from components that are not on the CAN. These components are required for specific IPC functions.

The hardwired inputs are provided by the following components: