Message Center Displays

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford Edge. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Compass Display (Without Touchscreen Audio)

On the base IPC, the compass is displayed as a 1 or 2 character display in the message center that indicates the current direction of the vehicle (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, or NW). On the high-level IPC, the compass can be displayed as a virtual compass along with the 1 or 2 character display. The IPC receives the GPS compass direction from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the GPS compass direction from the GPSM over the MS-CAN.

Compass Display (With Touchscreen Audio)

On the base and mid-level IPC, the compass is displayed as a 1 or 2 character display in the message center that indicates the current direction of the vehicle (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, or NW). On the high-level IPC, the compass can be displayed as a virtual compass along with the 1 or 2 character display. The IPC receives the compass direction message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the compass direction message from the APIM over the HS-CAN3.

Digital Speedometer

NOTE: The digital speed displayed can differ slightly from the analog speedometer due to stepper motor-pointer movement, indication tolerances and gauge bias.

The IPC provides a redundant digital speedometer display in the message center. The digital speedometer display operates using the same vehicle speed inputs used to control the analog speedometer. See Speedometer. The IPC utilizes software that modifies the display to account for differences between the speedometer gauge indication and the digital display resulting from built in biasing of the indication and tolerances in speedometer stepper motor/needle movement. Refer to: Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - System Operation and Component Description .

DTE/Average Fuel Economy (AFE)

The DTE is calculated in the IPC using the Running Average Fuel Economy (RAFE), which is the fuel economy over the last 480 km (300 miles), and the fuel level input from the fuel sender(s) to determine how many miles the vehicle can be driven based on the remaining fuel in the tank. The DTE can vary in the short term by up to 50 miles, but is usually within 10 miles. Even if the fuel economy is relatively constant, the DTE can be off over a 50 mile range by -24% to +38%. The DTE display and the fuel gauge both use the fuel level input from the fuel tank to provide their respective functions. If the fuel gauge doesn't function correctly, both the fuel gauge and the DTE display are affected.

The IPC defaults to a preset baseline mpg when the battery is initially connected and changes based on driving habits and conditions.

NOTE: The actual DTE can be higher or lower than the DTE displayed in the message center due to changes in driving conditions. It is important to understand how the DTE is calculated and the factors that impact the DTE display when determining how to address any DTE concerns.

Since the DTE is calculated and averaged over a longer period of time (480 km [300 miles]), varying driving conditions can have a significant impact on the current or short term DTE as opposed to the displayed DTE. This difference often leads to customer complaints of incorrect or invalid DTE. The following list provides some (not all) of the driving conditions that may lead to an incorrect or fluctuating DTE concern:

Changing between towing/not towing
Changing driving between city and highway
Allowing the vehicle to idle for long periods of time
Using the remote start feature frequently to allow the vehicle to warm up, particularly when parked on a grade
Parking or driving on grades
Inconsistent use of gasoline or E85 fuels
Over-fueling or not filling the tank completely (partial refueling)

To better illustrate the affects of how driving conditions can affect DTE, refer to the following 2 examples. The first example below illustrates how the following observations are normal and expected since the low fuel reminder is triggered from a fuel volume and not from a fixed distance to empty.

If while driving, the low fuel reminder (low fuel indicator and low fuel warning message) displays when the DTE equals 94.4 km (59 miles) and the driver adds 11.36 L (3 gallons) of fuel, the new DTE may become 124.8 km (78 miles). After continued driving, the low fuel reminder may now display when the DTE equals 83.2 km (52 miles).

The second example (below) illustrates what occurs when idling on an incline. In this example, the customer should be made aware of how the condition will correct after a few minutes of idling on a level surface.

If the customer stops and parks the vehicle on an incline in a driveway, then in the morning remote starts the vehicle, allowing the engine to idle, the DTE may now equal 184 km (115 miles). As the customer drives, the low fuel reminder displays when the DTE equals 148.8 km (93 miles). Finally, after 5 more minutes of driving, the DTE is back to 80 km (50 miles).

Factory-Transport Mode Display

During vehicle build, some modules, such as the IPC and the BCM, are set in factory mode. While in the factory mode the IPC displays FACTORY MODE CONTACT DEALER in the message center. If the vehicle is set in factory mode, the system does not automatically exit the mode and must be manually set to either the transport or normal operation mode.

When the vehicle build is complete, the vehicle is set to transport mode. While in transport mode, the IPC displays TRANSPORT MODE CONTACT DEALER in the message center. Transport mode is used to reduce the drain on the battery during longer periods where the vehicle is not used. Various systems may be altered or are disabled when in the transport mode. The vehicle automatically reverts to normal operation mode after being driven 80 km (50 mi).

The IPC receives the transport mode message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the transport mode message from the BCM over the HS-CAN1.

Lane Keeping System

The lane keeping system combines the lane keeping alert and lane keeping aid systems. The lane keeping alert system alerts the driver of unintentional drifting outside of the lane and the lane keeping aid system corrects the vehicle steering to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane. The IPC provides a lane keeping display as an overhead view of the vehicle in the middle of a lane with right and left lane markers to indicate the vehicle position with relation to the lane markings as well as overlay or popup messages to alert the driver when they are drifting out of their lane. The lane markers change color to indicate the condition associated with a specific condition and action or warning as controlled by the lane keeping system. The IPC also provides a lane keeping system message center off indicator to inform the driver that the lane keeping system is turned off. When the lane keeping system is turned off, the IPC turns on the lane keeping system RTT and turns off the lane keeping system display.

The IPC receives the camera status, lane keeping system status display and the lane keeping system hands off display messages from the GWM over the HS-CAN3.

The GWM receives the lane keeping system status display, the lane keeping system hands off display and camera status messages from the IPMA over the HS-CAN2.

MyKey® Function Displays

The IPC provides message center displays for the MyKey® feature. MyKey® displays are controlled through the IPC software based on the MyKey® settings configured through the message center and the type of key in use (MyKey® or administrator key). The MyKey® function also uses other messages received by the IPC for other indications such as vehicle speed for speed limiter displays.

Odometer

The IPC receives the odometer count message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the odometer count from the PCM over the HS-CAN1. The IPC monitors the odometer count input from the GWM and commands the odometer with a digital display in the message center.

Oil Life Message Center Display

The IPC provides message center messages to inform the driver about the oil life status and when an oil change is required. The duration of the interval between oil changes is calculated in the PCM and varies due to driving conditions. The PCM assumes a base mileage of 16, 090 km (10, 000 mi) or 1 year for normal driving. However, this number is adjusted down for conditions such as high engine temperature, high engine rpm, use of flex fuel and possibly low oil level. The PCM calculates and provides the engine oil life percent message to the IPC. The oil change minder can be reset at any time by the driver.

The PCM receives the engine oil life data reset request from the GWM over the HS-CAN1. The GWM receives the engine oil life data reset request from the IPC over the HS-CAN3.

The IPC receives the engine oil life message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3.

The GWM receives the engine oil life message from the PCM over the HS-CAN1.

Outside Air Temperature

The Ambient Air Temperature (AAT) sensor is hardwired to the PCM through separate input and return circuits. The PCM provides a reference voltage to the Ambient Air Temperature (AAT) sensor and monitors the change in voltage resulting from changes in resistance as determined by outside air temperature.

The PCM sends the ambient air temperature data to the GWM through the HS-CAN1. The GWM sends the ambient air temperature message to the HVAC (part of the FCIM) over the MS-CAN. The FCIM filters the data and sends the ambient air temperature filtered data back to the GWM over the MS-CAN. The GWM sends the ambient air temperature filtered message to the IPC over the HS-CAN3.

The FCIM is programmed to update the messaged outside temperature data at different rates depending on several criteria to prevent false temperature displays due to a condition known as heat soaking. Heat soaking is where the outside air temperature is hotter in the location of the Ambient Air Temperature (AAT) sensor than the actual outside air temperature.

The outside air temperature display update strategy requires a starting temperature to update from. This starting temperature is controlled based on the length of time the engine is off and the engine temperature. When the engine has been off for longer than 6 hours, the update strategy begins with the unfiltered ambient air temperature input to the PCM. If the engine has been off for less than 6 hours, and the engine coolant temperature is less than 49 deg. C (120 deg. F), the update strategy begins with the filtered ambient air temperature equal to the unfiltered ambient air temperature. If the engine has been off for less than 6 hours, and the engine coolant temperature is greater than 49 deg. C (120 deg. F), the update strategy begins at the stored previous outside air temperature value.

When the sensed outside temperature rises and the vehicle speed is above 33 km/h (21 mph), the outside air temperature display updates after approximately 90 seconds. As the vehicle speed increases, the outside air temperature display updates at a faster rate that is proportional to the increase in vehicle speed. Once the vehicle speeds exceeds 81 km/h (50 mph), the display updates without any delay. If the vehicle speed drops below 33 km/h (21 mph), the update delays reset. When the sensed outside temperature drops, the display updates more quickly following the drop experienced by the Ambient Air Temperature (AAT) sensor.

TPMS

The IPC provides a message center display showing each tire on a vehicle image to indicate specific tire pressures.

The IPC receives the tire pressure system status message from the GWM over the HS-CAN3. The GWM receives the tire pressure system status message from the BCM over the HS-CAN1.